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Vol. 29 - 2006
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PROCEEDINGS
Vol.29 - 2006
VICTOR V. CORMACK, Worshipful Master
89 Hunters Bay Dr., Huntsville, Ont. P1H 1M8
705-789-4187
SAMUEL FORSYTHE, Secretary
752 Hampton Ct, Pickering, Ont. L1W 3M3
905-831-2076 Fax 905-831-7815
e-mail: sforsythe@sympatico.ca
SHELDON KOFSKY, Editor
3864 Main Street, Jordan, Ont. N4S 6L1
905-562-8269 e-mail: mason@jmaks.ca
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
MICHAEL J. DIAMOND
1037 Patricia Street, London, Ont. N6A 3V3 - 519-565-2742
JOHN SCHAEFFER
1250 Sunbury Rd., R.R. #2, Inverary K0H 1K0 - 613-353-6708
GEORGE BURT
15 Cassells Drive, R.R. #2, Beeton LOG 1A0 - 905-775-2190
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Subject Page
Victor V. Cormack, Worshipful Master 203
Annual Heritage Banquet Address -
Ontario Parliament Buildings, 1892 To Present
By Steve Peters, M.P.P 205
Thirteen At Thirteen
By John Sutherland 211
The Knights of Malta
By Michael S. Ikonomidis 231
Ionic Lodge Historical Notes and Prominent Members
By Paul Skazin 241
Our Departed Brethren 260-262
The Heritage Lodge Past Masters 263
Committee Chairmen 264
The Heritage Lodge Officers 265
DISCLAIMER
The contributors to these Proceedings are alone
responsible for the opinions expressed and also
for the accuracy of the statements made therein,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The
Heritage Lodge A.F. & A.M., No. 730 G.R.C.
VICTOR V. CORMACK
Worshipful Master - 2006
My journey through Masonry has been one of pleasure;
in particular my time with The Heritage Lodge.
My sincere personal thanks and appreciation to the
Members and Officers, and especially to our Secretary,
Very Worshipful Brother Sam Forsythe, whose guidance
and assistance is gratefully appreciated.
I congratulate the Officers of our Lodge and wish them
success in the ensuing years.
I also wish future Worshipful Masters have the same
enjoyable experience and satisfaction in the coming
years.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Victor V. Cormack, Worshipful Master
203
R.W.Bro. VICTOR VARCOE CORMACK
Worshipful Master, 2006
The Heritage Lodge No. 730 G.R.C.
A.F. & A.M.
Initiated, Passed and Raised in Algonguin Lodge No.
434 G.R.C, Emsdale, Ontario, 1987
Installed as Worshipful Master Algonguin Lodge No.
434 G.R.C, Emsdale, Ontario, 1994
Grand Registrar, Grand Lodge of Canada in the
Province of Ontario, 1997-8
Member of Building and Blood Donor Committee for
several years
Affiliated with Unity Lodge No. 376 G.R.C,
Huntsville, Ontario
Affiliated with The Heritage Lodge No. 730 G.R.C,
Cambridge, Ontario, 1995
Worshipful Master, The Heritage Lodge No. 730
G.R.C, Cambridge, Ontario, 2006
Commander in Chief of the Consistory, Barrie Valley,
Scottish Rite, Barrie, Ontario, 2006
Member Rameses Shrine Temple, Toronto
204
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN ONTARIO
1792 TO PRESENT
By STEVE J. PETERS, M.P.P.
Elgin-Middlesex-London
Minister of Labour, Province of Ontario
21st Annual Heritage Lodge Banquet
Scarborough Masonic Temple
Scarborough, Ontario
I am grateful for the privilege to speak to you at this your 21st
annual Heritage Lodge Banquet.
I bring you greetings and best wishes from Premier Dalton
McGuinty and the Province of Ontario. I have just three political
messages to deliver before I begin:
1. If you are an employer, please be a proponent of health and
safety in the workplace - particularly young workers.
2. If you are considering purchasing a new car, consider a Grand
Marquis or a Crown Victoria.
3. Support our farmers. Buy local, buy Ontario, buy Canadian.
The Constitutional Act of 1 79 1 established the Provinces of
Upper and Lower Canada. In the case of Upper Canada, the
province was to be administered by a Lieutenant Governor, a
Legislative Council and an elected Assembly representing Upper
Canada's 19 counties.
John Graves Simcoe was appointed our first Lieutenant
Governor. His first duty was to choose a capital. His first choice
was London but he was not supported. Most people favoured the
site of Fort Toronto but instead he chose Newark as the political
and administrative centre of the province.
October 23, 2003, 1 was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister for the
Province of Ontario. I vividly remember my first Cabinet meeting
in Room 275 - the Executive Chamber. What struck me when I
first entered was the large 10'x20' painting which hangs on the
west wall. It is entitled The First Legislature of Upper Canada by
Frederick S. Challener.
The painting depicts the opening of the first session of the first
Parliament held in Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) on September
17, 1792.
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
This painting contains the image of not only our first political
leaders and appointed officials but some of our first Masonic
leaders: Simcoe, Jarvis, Brant, Cartwright, Hamilton Powell and
White to name but a few.
The close connection between political leadership and Free
Masonry is not just documented in the painting.
"This lower room was in fact the only convenient place where the
(opening) ceremony could have been performed. Fort Niagara was in
American territory, although the British flag still flew above it; there was no
accommodation at Butler's Barrack's (sic) ... (and) Navy Hall was in
course of construction."
"Major Smith will give directions to Captain Glasgow of the Royal
Artillery to fire a Royal Salute when His Excellency Lt.-Gov. Simcoe goes
to open the House of Assembly tomorrow morning on the 1 7th. A subaltern
Guard of the 5th Regiment (is) to mount tomorrow morning at Freemason's
Hall (sic)." (for the origins of all quoted excerpts, please see the
Bibliography at the end of this document)
We may never know the exact location but we all should be
extremely proud of the role that Masons played in the founding of
our great province.
As early as 1793, concern was being expressed about the
vulnerability of Newark because of its proximity to the United
States. After a great deal of compromise and deliberation the
decision was made to move to Toronto. Simcoe at this time
renamed Toronto and designated the new capital as York.
"But a stone's throw from the waters of the bay to the south, and the
forest to the north and east, while not far to the west there stood a grove
of fine oak trees ... The buildings faced westward and commanded a full
view of the harbour in that direction."
This location is Front and Parliament Streets today.
Construction began in the summer of 1794 and it was not
completed until 1797. The buildings were constructed of locally
fired red brick and measured 29'x40'.
On the morning of April 26, 1813 an American invasion fleet
of 1 4 ships entered and anchored in the harbour.
The Americans attacked on the 27th and in the course of their
efforts, the Parliament was burned to the ground. The Americans
took from the building the Speaker's wig, the flag that flew over
the building and the ceremonial mace (the symbol of the
Assembly's power).
The British retaliated and invaded Washington. As a result of
their actions and fires, the citizens of the U.S. can credit us for the
White House.
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PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN ONTARIO - 1702 TO PRESENT
The mace was returned by the Americans in 1934 and it is on
display today at Queen's Park. The flag is still located at the U.S.
Naval Academy in Annapolis.
The site today is home to a car wash and auto dealership.
During a two week period in 2000, an archaeological dig occurred
and remains of the burned buildings were discovered.
After much lobbying and negotiations the Province of Ontario
on December 2 1 , 2005 acquired the site in an exchange of land
with the current owners. The historic site will remain in public
hands for future generations.
The destruction left the Legislature without a home. The
session for 1814 was opened in Jordan's York Hotel. It was the
largest hotel in York and was situated at King and Parliament.
In 1 8 1 5 the Legislature met in a private residence known as the
Lawn at Wellington and York Streets. While sitting here the
decision was made to construct a new building.
The new Parliament building was opened in 1820 on a site
adjacent to the old site which had been burned by the Americans.
The Assembly met from 1 829-1 832 at the York Court House.
While sitting here work commenced on the new Parliament
buildings. These buildings opened in 1832 at a cost of 10,000
pounds.
The Union Act 1 840 joined the provinces of Upper and Lower
Canada, now called Canada West and Canada East, into a single
legislative entity - The Province of Canada.
In uniting the two, the decision was made to locate the capital
to a more central location, Kingston.
New buildings would have to be constructed so temporary
accommodation was secured in the Kingston Hospital. The
Legislature met here for the first meeting of the Assembly of the
Province of Canada on June 14, 1841.
The choice of Kingston was not supported by all and in 1 843
Governor General Bagot recommended relocation to Montreal. The
move occurred and the second Parliament opened at St. Anne's
Market in Montreal on Nov. 28, 1844.
On April 25, 1849, Governor General Lord Elgin signed the
Rebellion Losses Bill. This was a very contentious bill and many
people were outraged:
"At 8 o'clock thousands of excited Tories had assembled on the
Champs de Mars where the Hon. George Moffatt, Col. Gugy, and others
spoke and denounced the Governor-General for having signed the
Rebellion Losses Bill and urged the people to petition Her Majesty to recall
him. But 'petitioning' did not suit the temper of the people and there was
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
something more sympathetic in the wild cry of 'fire, fire,' as the bells were
heard sounding the alarm."
The Chamber was set on fire and much of the building
including the archives and the library was destroyed.
Temporary accommodation was secured at Freemasons' Hall.
Many members were concerned about the unstable political
environment in Montreal and the decision was made to return to
Toronto to the buildings on Front Street.
During the absence from Toronto, the Parliament building had
become the home of the Insane Asylum. The troubled inmates were
removed and the politicians returned.
The Assembly returned to Toronto in 1 856 and met here until
1 859 while new buildings were constructed in Quebec.
There was a great deal of debate as to where the capital would
be located. Numerous locations were proposed. It became evident
that a compromise had to be found.
The Governor General proposed that Queen Victoria should
choose. His choice was Ottawa.
"Ottawa is the only place which will be accepted by the majority of
Upper and Lower Canada as a fair compromise. With the exception of
Ottawa, every one of the cities proposed is an object of jealousy to each
of the others. Ottawa is, in fact, neither in Upper nor Lower Canada.
Literally it is in the former; but a bridge alone divides it from the latter."
The Assembly met in Quebec from 1 860-65. They then moved
to Ottawa to the new parliament buildings from 1866-67.
Confederation of July 1 , 1 867 led to the designation of Toronto as
the Capital of the new Province of Ontario. The Ontario
Legislature returned to the old Parliament buildings on Front
Street. The site though was not popular and yearly operating
expenses continued to rise.
"The annual expenditure for keeping these buildings in even decent
condition, is so large in proportion to their extent that I considered it proper
to call attention ... to the necessity of constructing new buildings."
On January 4, 1 880 Tully filed a report on the condition of the
Parliament buildings. The report concluded:
"That the present buildings are totally unsuited to the requirements of
the Province, and cannot be altered to meet the accommodation which is
now urgently needed. It is, therefore, a matter of serious and unavoidable
consideration whether the present buildings and site should not be
abandoned, and new buildings erected elsewhere."
The fourth Parliament of Ontario opened . . .
"(the House) is of the opinion that no sufficient reason exists for
incurring at the present time the large expenditure involved in the erection
208
PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN ONTARIO - 1702 TO PRESENT
of new Parliament and Departmental buildings, and that an opportunity
should be afforded to the electors of pronouncing upon the question
before the Province is committed to so large an expenditure . . ."
Originally, $500,000 had been allocated to the new Parliament.
Upon reviewing plans of numerous architects and tenders it was
discovered that the estimate was not adequate. Lack of consensus
lead to almost five years of debate. On March 1 8, 1 885 a resolution
was debated.
"The Government has pledged itself to proceed with the buildings,
and they had come to the conclusion that their early construction was a
necessity. They decided to secure the services of an architect and to have
a new set of plans prepared. A careful deliberation as to who the architect
should be resulted in the selection of Mr. Waite of Buffalo."
"Mr. Fraser may rant in the House, but will even he have the
effrontery to defend this favouritism in the use of the patronage which he
holds as a trust, this unfair treatment of Canadian architects, this making
a foreign rival a secret and interested judge?"
Construction finally began in 1886. After so many years of
delay, costs rose and the Legislature had to appropriate additional
money.
More than 60 men were employed on the construction site
including 1 8 stone cutters, nine stone carvers, eight carpenters and
23 labourers.
Finally in 1893, Queen's Park was ready for occupation. The
final cost was $1,250,000, about $800,000 more than had been
originally allocated.
On April 4, 1 893 the building was officially opened.
Soon after opening, it became evident that more space for
government was needed. In 1909, the north wing was added.
The west wing was gutted by fire on September 1, 1909,
causing $700,000 in damage. When the west wing was rebuilt, it
was done in a fireproof manner. Today the west wing is marble and
metal while the east wing and the chamber are oak.
Let me conclude with some Queen's Park trivia:
• The building is affectionately known as the Pink Palace.
• The University Lunatic Asylum was located on the site until the
1 860s. Rumour has it that part of the building was constructed on
the old foundation.
• The circular window in the west tower was supposed to house
a clock but it was never installed.
• 1 934 - Mitch Hepburn rented Varsity Stadium to auction off the
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
fleet of government cars. He also thought the Archives was an
unnecessary expense - J.J. Talman hid the collection.
• Televised sessions did not begin until the mid-1980s.
• At least three ghosts are said to haunt the building.
• Masonic Premiers: Arthur Hundy, Sir George Ross, Sir William
Hearst, E.C. Dinney, George Howard Ferguson, George S. Henry,
Mitchel Frederick Hepburn (a member of my mother lodge St.
Davids 302), Gordon Conant, Harry Nixon, George Drew (his
portrait clearly shows his 33 degree ring), Thomas Kennedy, Leslie
Frost, William Davis, Frank Miller, Ernie Eves.
• No cornerstone.
Thank you for the opportunity to address you this
evening. I say thank you to the members of Heritage
Lodge for your dedication to preserving Masonic history
here in the Province of Ontario. Have a fine evening.
Bibliography
'From Front Street to Queen's Park - The Story of Ontario's Parliament
Buildings', Eric Arthur, 1979
'A Century to Celebrate, 1893-1993: The Ontario Legislature Building',
Roger Hall, 1993
'Toronto in the Parliaments of Upper Canada', William Riddell, 1922
'The Places of Government, 1792-1992', C.A. Dale, 1993
'Government on Fire, The History of Archeology of Upper Canada's First
Parliament Buildings', Frank Dieterman and Ronald Williamson, 2001
210
13 at 13
13 Charter Members and the First
13 Years of Oxford Lodge No. 76
by W.Bro. John F. Sutherland
W.M., Oxford Lodge No. 76
Woodstock Masonic Temple
March 25, 2006
INTRODUCTION
Travelling the world, our ancestors have covered the four
divisions of the globe. In many cases those travels led to
locations that they would call home. One home, the Town of
Woodstock, formally came to be in 1851. Churches,
businesses, factories and fraternal organizations became part
of the landscape. Some have remained, some moved on, while
others just faded away. The members of Oxford Lodge, echo
the activities and actions of the many people who are a part of
Woodstock and Oxford County.
On April 29, 2007, Oxford Lodge No. 76 will celebrate its
150th anniversary. Almost 1,500 Masons have been a part of
our Lodge's history. From brethren who only have their first
degree, to those who were Master of the Lodge, Grand Lodge
Officers or even those who never missed a meeting. Since
1857 we have had Members of Parliament, a Member of the
Provincial Legislature, one Senator, a number of mayors, as
well as losing three brethren during the Great War.
The history of our first 150 years will be complemented
with three books. Each book will cover a 50-year period. What
we will attempt to do in this paper is to show where our 1 3
charter members came from, where they ended up, as well as
what happened during our lodge's first 13 years.
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Some made a name for themselves before coming to
Woodstock, some made their mark here in town, while others
moved on to make a difference elsewhere.
BACKGROUND
Woodstock has always been centrally located. In today's
world, we are at the junction of the 403 and 401 Highways,
being two hours from Niagra Falls, Sarnia, Windsor and 1 14
hours from Toronto. Woodstock is on the Governor's Road
where it crosses over the Thames River. The first major
transportation route was the railway that came through town in
1 854, from Toronto, and later going to Windsor.
The oldest community in the area is Ingersoll, which began
to grow in the late 1 700s. Masonically, King Hiram Lodge was
begun in Ingersoll in 1802.
Although designated a potential townsite in 1798,
Woodstock was not settled until 1800. Zacharias Burtch and
his sons cleared 12.5 hectares (30 acres) and built the first log
house along Dundas Street, on the present site of the
Woodstock YMCA.1 A direct descendent of Burtch, was
recently a member and officer of Oxford Lodge, until being
transferred to the U.S., one of many brethren to go south.
In 1836 there were 200 people living in the area of
Woodstock; by 1 844, Woodstock had a population of 940 with
over 1 60 homes.
The local half-pay retired Naval Officers requested that the
developing community of Woodstock should serve as the town
seat, and in 1839, the courthouse was built in Woodstock due
to the persuasion of Captains Andrew Drew, Peter Carroll and
Philip Graham. A small jail had been in Ingersoll, for a number
of years, but the decision to build a more formidable
courthouse and jail in Woodstock, eight miles away, would
shift much of the commerce and other activities to Woodstock.
On January 1, 1851, Woodstock became a town with the
first meeting of the new town council in the Royal Pavilion
Hotel on January 6 and 1?
212
THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
With a population of over 1,000 people, the need for a
Masonic lodge in the Woodstock area had been discussed,
under the initiative of John McWhinnie.
Correspondence was exchanged with the Provincial Grand
Lodge of Canada West (offices in Toronto). King Solomon's
Lodge was instituted as No. 38 of the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Canada West on Dec. 22, 1852, in the town of Woodstock.
King Solomon's Lodge was also warranted as No. 896, under
United Grand Lodge of England register. The Mother Lodge of
King Solomon's was St. John's Lodge, Carlton Place, which
was John McWhinnie's mother lodge. The officers were
installed and invested by some past masters of St. George's
Lodge of London. When King Solomon's Lodge was instituted,
George W. Whitehead was installed as the first Worshipful
Master at the age of 62, and John McWhinnie was the lodge's
first Secretary.
King Solomon's Lodge Charter Members
Whitehead, George W., St. Johns Lodge, Simcoe?
Barnes, John, Prince Edward 150, Lancashire, England
McWhinnie, John, St. John's, Carleton Place
Clark, John, St. Johns 214, Quebec
Woodcock, Ralph, A., King Hiram, Ingersoll, (Woodstock
merchant)
Kintrea, James, Kilmo Limerick L, Elgin, Scotland
Green, Alexander, New Edinburgh Kilwinning, Edinburgh
Kellogg, Ebeneezer, Jefferson Lodge, ?-? illegible
Lapenotiere, William, Strict Observance, Hamilton
Dorman, Henry, King Hiram, Oxford W, Canada, (Ingersoll)
The first meetings were held at Henry Dorman' s Inn.
Before moving to Woodstock, Dorman had an inn and stable
in Burford, where he had been an acquaintance of George
Whitehead.
In 1855 a number of Lodges in Upper Canada or Canada
West, had left the Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West to
form their own Grand Lodge of Canada under the leadership
213
THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
of William Mercer Wilson. The members of King Solomon's
Lodge in Woodstock would remain with the original
Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West, where Sir Allan
Napier McNab was the Grand Master.
A second Woodstock Lodge, Oxford No. 56 was Instituted
on April 29, 1857. The installing master was Very Worshipful
Brother J. Harding, Grand Registrar, and a Past Master of St.
George's Lodge of London. Eleven of the 1 3 Charter Members
were from King Solomon's Lodge. Even though those
members had separated from King Solomon's, the two lodges
would work together sharing many things, most importantly
their lodge room, as well, this new lodge would affiliate with
McNab' s Provincial Grand Lodge.
Our First Installation
Minutes of the Installation of the Office Bearers of the
Oxford Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Held in the
Masonic Hall, Woodstock, County of Oxford 29 April 5857,
Installed under a Dispensation Granted by the Provincial
Grand Lodge Under the authority of Grand Lodge of England
Pro Tern Present
G.M.
V.W.Bro. J. Harding
St. George's
London
P.G.M.
W.Bro. J. Bennett
St. George's
London
G.S.W.
W.Bro. C. Kuhn
Simcoe
Simcoe
G.J.W.
W.Bro. J. R. Brown
St. George's
London
G.S.
W.Bro. F.R. Ball
King Solomon's Woodstock
G.S.D.
W.Bro. Oliver
Unity
Paris
G.J. D.
John Carroll
Westminster
G.I.G.
W.Bro. J. Long
Norfolk
Simcoe
G.Tyler Bro.Ebenezer Kellogg King Solomon's Woodstock
Other Members of Oxford Lodge Present: V.W. Bro. G.W.
Whitehead, Bro. W.P. Street, Bro. R.A. Woodcock, Bro. John
VanVoorhis, Bro. John G. Carroll, Bro. C.H. Whitehead, Bro.
J. G. Vansittart, Bro. J.A. Hamilton; King Solomon's
Woodstock: Bro. Schyler Brown, Bro. J.W. Ferguson, Bro.
William Warwick, Bro. Joseph Sudsworth, Bro. Andrew Ross,
214
THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
Bro. George Forbes, Bro. Alexander Green, Bro. Thomas
Scott, Bro. George A. Hicks (Flick); Unity, Paris: Bro. C.
Westing,, Bro. Chaes, Bro. Horace Capron, and Bro. Flock
from London.
The Grand Lodge was opened in the entered apprentice
degree at 4:30 p.m. The authority appointing V.W.Bro.
Harding officiating Grand Master was read. The secretary then
read the dispensation from the provincial Grand Lodge
authorizing the Installation of the Oxford Lodge.
The Grand Master then proceeded to install V.W.Bro.
G.W. Whitehead as W.M. of the Oxford Lodge - The G.M.
then required all Brethren not Past Masters to retire. The
ceremony of installation of the W.M. was concluded, and the
Brethren called into the Lodge again when Bro. W. Street was
installed S.W., Bro. R. Woodcock J.W. Bro. C.H. Whitehead
Treasurer, Bro. F. R. Ball as proxy for John Greig, Secretary,
Bro. John G. Carrall as proxy for Jordan Charles, S.D., Bro. J.
A. Hamilton J.D., Bro. J. B. VanVoorhis I.G., Bro. E. Kellogg
Tyler. The Lodge closed in harmony at 5:20 p.m.3
With this ceremony Oxford Lodge would be Instituted as
No. 56 on The Grand Register of the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Canada West, but was not warranted with the United Grand
Lodge of England.
CHARTER MEMBERS
Like many lodges, the charter members of this new lodge
had not only various backgrounds, but had only been in
Woodstock a short time.
George Washington Whitehead was born in New
Brunswick in 1790, the son of Rev. Thomas Whitehead a
Methodist minister. The Whitehead family moved to the
Burford area in 1811. In 1813 at age 23 he opened the first
store in Burford, close to Henry Dorman's establishments.
With this General Store he would also become the first Post
Master as well.
Thomas Horner established the first militia in Oxford on
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
22nd March, 1798. A reorganization of the Oxford Militia by
Horner in 1824 gave the Command of the Burford Company
to George Whitehead. In 1829, at age 39, he was appointed
Capt. of the Burford Militia, with 64 men under his command.
One of the most crucial events that would change his life
and others like him, occurred in 1833. Egerton Ryerson, the
head of the Methodist Church, led clerics like Thomas
Whitehead to now support Lt. Gov. Colbourne and therefore
changing politically from Reformer to Tory. The remaining
Episcopal Methodists saw Ryerson's move as a betrayal of
their principals.
After the rebellion of 1837 Whitehead was promoted to
Colonel for the work he had done in assisting Sir Allan Napier
MacNab's men in stopping the rebellion in the Norwich area.
In 1848 Whitehead moved into Woodstock and became
publisher of the Conservative British American newspaper.
J.G. Vansittart, the son of Admiral Henry Vansittart, was the
principal proprietor. At this point in time there were numerous
papers in the area. Shortly after Whitehead's arrival on the
scene there would be no more competition.
Whitehead was initiated into Masonry in St. John's Lodge,
Simcoe, in April 1 8 1 7 at the age of 27, when he was still in the
Burford area. Whitehead's Masonic life was fairly quiet and
did not come to the forefront until his arrival in Woodstock in
1848 at the age of 58. George was one of three charter
members of King Solomon's Lodge to start this second Lodge
in town.
With Sir Allan Napier MacNab as Grand Master of the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Canada West, Whitehead had been
an active Grand Lodge Officer since the late 1 840s.
John Greig was born on April 5, 1 808, and received his
early education in the Burgh school of Montrose, Scotland. On
leaving the school, he assisted his father, who was assessor and
collector of taxes in his native town, where John was trained
in bookkeeping and accounts. Two years later he entered a law
216
THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
office in Edinburgh, in which he remained for some years.
In 1833, he emigrated to upper New York State, where he
acted as clerk for a year or more in a mercantile establishment
in Chippewa, New York. In the fall of 1834 he visited
Woodstock and decided to make the town his home, and soon
after, opened a store in a house east of Dundas Cottage, at the
entrance to Old St. Paul's Church. In a few years he
relinquished that and other occupations and resumed the study
of law in the office of Mr. Hughes in Woodstock, where he
then practised as an attorney.
He was appointed Town Clerk, an office he held for 28
years. He was actively involved in the formation of the first
Presbyterian Church here in 1 837. Greig and 1 3 others met in
the east end school house. Here, they establishment a
congregation and would later erect the old Kirk on Graham
Street. He had contributed his time and money for the
establishment of the public library as well. John was initiated
into King Solomon's Lodge in July 1855.
Francis R. Ball was born in 1827 in the Township of
Niagara. During the Revolutionary War of 1776 his grand-
father, Col. Mann Ball, joined the British service and held a
commission in Butler's Rangers, serving until the close of the
war, when he settled in Niagara. Francis was educated at the
Niagara Grammar School and began the study of law with C.
L. Hall of that town and completed it with Judge Burns of
Toronto. He was admitted to the Bar in 1 850 and then took up
a practice in Woodstock. In 1856 he contested South Oxford
in a federal election under the Liberal party. In 1 863 he was
appointed Clerk of the Peace and Crown Attorney.
Francis Ball, was part of a consortium that gave a sizable
amount to the Railway Company. When completed it later
became part of the Grand Trunk Railway which ran east to
west from Toronto to Windsor.
His brother, the Rev. W. S. Ball, was the first pastor of
Knox Presbyterian Church. Rev. Ball married Marianne
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Brown, sister of George Brown of the Globe.
Charles H. Whitehead was a son of George W.
Whitehead. Charles was born in the township of Burford in
1 823. He spent his early years on the family farm and went to
Hamilton and then Ingersoll where he worked as a clerk. In
1854 at the request of Col. Ingersoll, the County Registrar, he
worked as deputy registrar, where he remained for 38 years.
Warren C. Street was a banker, Ralph Woodcock, the
second of three charter members of King Solomon's Lodge
and Joseph Hamilton were merchants in Ingersoll and
Woodstock, respectively. Hamilton had been initiated into
King Solomon's Lodge in May 1856.A third lawyer, John G.
Carroll, was in partnership with Francis Ball. He was actively
involved with the local Militia, being promoted as the adjutant
in 1852. Jordan Charles and Henry DeBlanquiere entered
themselves as Esquire. The former was a revenue inspector,
while the latter had owned a sawmill in Sydenham (Burford
Township) close to Henry Dorman and George Whitehead,
before moving to Woodstock.
The final three charter members lived in close proximity to
each other on the road leading north from Eastwood, which is
just a couple of miles east of Woodstock. John G. Vansittart
was the son of Admiral Henry Vansittart. The Admiral had
been the highest ranking half-pay officer who had settled in the
Woodstock area. John G. was the principle proprietor of the
British American newspaper in the 1 850s which was under the
editorial control of George Whitehead. Vansittart was initiated
into King Solomon's Lodge on April 1, 1853. John B.
VanVoorhis was a lumber merchant and railroad contractor,
being involved with the building of what would be the Grand
Trunk Railway. His home was fairly close to that rail line. He
was initiated into King Solomon's Lodge in June of 1 854. The
odd man out was Ebenezer Kellogg, who at the age of 65 was
listed as a labourer, being a farmhand to a family that lived
between Vansittart and VanVoorhis. Ebenezer was the brother
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
who, having been the third charter member of King Solomon's
Lodge and tyler at King Solomon's Lodge, was asked to retain
the same chair in Oxford Lodge. Ebenezer would be paid $1
per night for his work as tyler. With the two lodges having two
meetings per month on a regular basis, he was well paid, along
with his work on the farm. Records indicate that he was
initiated into a Jefferson Lodge, but no Grand Jurisdiction is
indicated.
John Carroll, Charles Whitehead, Jordan Charles and
Francis Ball were initiated in King Solomon's Aug. 16, 1853.
ON OUR OWN
The lodge's first meeting, conducted under its own
authority, was one month later on May 13, 1857, when the
Lodge was not opened until 8:45 p.m. Business of the meeting
was one of organization:
RESOLVED: that the W.M., S. and J. Wardens and
secretary be a committee to draw up a code of bylaws and
report the same to the next meeting.
RESOLVED: that W.M. correspond with Bro. Richardson
and Bro. Harding for the purpose of ascertaining the price of
Lodge Collars, Jewels Etc.
RESOLVED: that Bro. Warwick (King Solomon's Lodge)
be requested to procure for the Lodge buy a dozen Entered
Apprentice Lamb Skin Aprons.
RESOLVED that the W.M., S.W. J.W. the secretary and
Bros. Charles and Carroll be a committee to arrange with
Bro. Norton in reference to the refreshments furnished at the
installation of Lodge.
Communication from Oxford Lodge with King Solomon's
Lodge on May 13 1857 stated:
RESOLVED: that the secretary correspond with King
Solomon 's and ascertain from that Lodge if the members
thereof know of any reason why the application of John
Turquand should not be received favourably .
At the following meeting dated June 1 0, 1 857, it was stated
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
the secretary had been authorized by the W.M. and brethren of
King Solomon's Lodge to say that they were not aware that
any reason existed why Dr. Turquand should not be admitted
into the Masonic Order.
Dr. John Turquand was then the first initiated member of
Oxford Lodge. Dr. Turquand was born in Malta, on Feb. 25,
1 8 1 5. In 1 820, the family came to Canada, and located at York,
where his father was chief clerk in the Receiver-General office.
After the union of Upper and Lower Canada in 1841, he
became Receiver-General for a short time. John was a pupil at
The Old District School which was run by Archdeacon
Strachan. John spent three years at Upper Canada College,
Toronto, when it opened in 1830. In 1836 he passed his
medical exams at McGill College. His family's connections
with Rev. Wm. Bettridge of St. Paul's church in Woodstock
and Admiral Vansittart brought him to Woodstock,
commencing his medical practice here, in September, 18374.
He would be the first president of the Ontario College of
Physicians and Surgeons in 1867. He was a member of Royal
College of Surgeons, England, and of the College of
Physicians, Edinburgh5
Dr. Turquand' s brother, Bertrand Turquand, who was 25
years his senior, was the Grand Secretary of the Provincial
Grand Lodge in Upper Canada from 1 822 until his resignation
in 1842.
GRAND LODGE UNION (Our Lodge's Perspective)
The September and October meetings of Oxford Lodge in
1 857 centered around the upcoming meeting of Grand Lodge:
RESOL VED that the W. M. and either of the Wardens
should be delegates from this Lodge at the approaching
meeting of the G. L. and that they take the dispensation with
them, but that they do not give up the dispensation without
referring the matter to the lodge.
A Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada West
was held on September 1857 wherein Whitehead was
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
appointed to the Board of General Purposes.
The following month Oxford Lodge's minutes indicate that
The W.M. (Whitehead) gave a short speech, narrated the
proceedings of the late meeting of the P. G.L. and said that the
dispensation of this lodge had been given up in accordance
with other lodges throughout the Province and that this lodge
was now working under a dispensation granted by Sir Allan N.
McNab as G.M. of the Ancient G.L. of Canada
In May of 1858, our minute book states Communication
from V.W.Bro. Ridout D.G.M. concerning the proposed
arrangements contemplated Union of two Grand Lodges was
read.
RESOLVED that the communication from D.G.M. of the
Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada dated May 21, instruct this
lodge to be represented on the same grand lodge on the 2nd
day of June and the correspondence between the D. G.M. of the
ancient Grand Lodge and the Most Wor. the Grand Master of
the Grand Lodge of Canada on the subject of the reunion of
the several Grand Lodges in Canada be approved of and that
this lodge be accordingly represented.
Communication between the P. G.L. and the upstart Grand
Lodge under Wm. Mercer Wilson was resumed and on the
1 4th of July 1 858, the 3rd Communication of the Grand Lodge
saw the beginning of the Union with McNab' s Grand Lodge
that had been renamed the Ancient Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge of Canada called off late in the afternoon
of the 14th of July, and resumed at 7:30 p.m. The Grand
Pursuivant announced that a deputation from the Ancient
Grand Lodge of Canada was awaiting admission.
The Grand Lodge of Canada was called to order. A
deputation consisting of Right Worshipful Brothers T.O.
Harrington, T.G. Ridout, S.B. Harmon and G.W. Whitehead
from the Ancient Grand Lodge of Canada, were introduced,
and announced that the preamble and resolutions for union,
had been unanimously adopted by the Ancient Grand Lodge.
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Our Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario had
now begun as the only Grand Lodge in Canada West.
The following business was brought to Oxford Lodge,
concerning those meetings at Grand Lodge in Toronto:
The W.M. laid before the lodge his report on the
Proceedings of the Grand lodge on the 14, 15 and 1 6th July at
Toronto. - which was read by the sec. The dispensation in
favour of this lodge was also read.
RESOLVED that the report now read be adopted and
entered in the minutes.
RESOLVED that the W.M., the sec. and Br o. Turquandbe
a committee to report on the by-laws to the next R.C.
RESOLVED that the Treasurer, Secretary and Bros.
Turquand and DeBlanquiere be a committee to receive into the
accounts and make a general statement of the finances of the
Lodge to the 14 July last and to report the same the next R. C.
The complete copy of the report of Amalgamation was
handwritten into the minute book of the lodge and is an exact
account that is also found in John Ross Robertson's volumes.
The districts within Grand Jurisdiction were redefined in
1 861 and The Wilson District No. 3 was formed, with George
Whitehead becoming the first District Deputy Grand Master in
1861.
Within those early years of developing a new Lodge and
negotiating a new Grand Lodge, the members of Oxford went
about to initiate and affiliate a number of new members. They
also had the time to take care of some individual needs
required by some of the members.
MEMBERS STORIES
During the same period an interesting series of events took
place concerning Bro. Milligan, which shows how transient
many people were. On March 14th of 1860, Letter from White
Pigeon Mich, in answer to one from sec. of this lodge as to
standing of Mr. Wm. Milligan while there.
On May 9th 1 860, Brother Milligan, having obtained his
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
first degree and solicitous before leaving this country on
having 2nd and 3rd degree conferred, an appl was made for
dispensation which was obtained by the Deputy District G M. .
Bro. Milligan then received his second and third degree that
evening. It was then moved seconded and carried that Bro.
Milligan be refunded 1/3 of his initiation fee to apply on
dispensation fee.
The Lodge's first full participation in a Masonic Funeral
took place in February of 1865. An emergent meeting was
called to make arrangements for Bro. John Andrew - late of
Beaver Lodge Strathroy and formerly a member of this lodge
who requested a short time previous to his death that his body
be buried by his Masonic Brethren in Woodstock
IV. M. requested that the brethren should meet in the Lodge
room at 3:30 next day, where they travelled to the Great
Western Railway depot, received body of late Bro. Andrew
from the cars and from then brought to church of England
burial ground where it was interred with full Masonic
honours, the brethren then return to lodge. They closed Lodge
at 7 p.m.
For many people, Woodstock, like many towns, was a
stopping point in their ongoing travels.
Bro. Robert W. W. Carrall, had a similar educational
back-ground to John Turquand. He was born in 1837 at
Can-all's Grove, near Woodstock He was educated at Trinity
College, Toronto, though he did not graduate, and he later
received his Medical Degree from McGill University in 1859.
Dr. Carrall affiliated with Oxford on August 10, 1861. He
practised for a short time in Woodstock. In 1 862 he became a
contract surgeon with the Union forces of the U.S.
In 1 865 he moved to British Columbia, where he set up a
practice in Nanaimo, then later moved to Barkerville. In the
October 1868 election, he gained a seat on the Legislative
Council, on which he served until 1871. In January 1870
Governor Anthony Musgrave, gave him a seat on the
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Executive Council, and on April 20th he was appointed one of
the three delegates to Ottawa to discuss the terms of British
Columbia's union with Canada. In Ottawa, Carrall was the
only delegate to have an interview with MacDonald. Shortly
after British Columbia became part of the Confederation,
Carrall was appointed to the Senate on Dec. 3 1,1871. His most
notable achievement came in 1879, when he introduced the
bill, which was later passed, to make the first day of July a
public holiday by the name of Dominion Day.
Bro. Henry Smith was another doctor from Oxford Lodge
who, after being initiated , passed and raised in 1862, left
Woodstock to assist in the Civil War in the U. S. In late 1868
a communication was receivedfrom Bro. Henry Smith wishing
to be informed what his dues amounted to, also requesting
that his demit be granted. The secretary having already replied
to the letter giving the desired information at the same time
stating that a demit will not be granted till arrears of dues
were paid. No further action was taken in the matter.
In December 1868, a letter from Bro. Smith who had been
suspendedfor non-payment of dues in the year 1863, was read,
asking the lodge to remit him a portion of his dues on account
of his long absence from Canada having served with the
United States Army during the late American War. Bro. Stark
having raised some objection to a demit being granted Bro.
Smith under any circumstances, the matter was allowed to
drop, on the understanding that the secretary communicate
with R. W. Bro. Curtis, the D. D. G. M. asking him for his opinion
and judgement in the matter. There was no further
communication from the D.D.G.M., so that was that.
MASTERS OF THE LODGE
During our introductory period six brethren would become
Master of the lodge. George W. Whitehead took the reigns for
our first two years, 1 857-59, Jordan Charles 1 860-61 and then
again in '64, John Turquand 1862-63, then again in 1866-67.
Homer Brown in 1865, Edward Burke in 1868 and E.
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
Farquiere for the period 1869-71.
Brother John Turquand, the third Worshipful Master of
Oxford Lodge, at the Annual Communications of Grand Lodge
in 1 867, was elected Grand Junior Warden.
PUBLIC OFFICIALS
From 1851 until 1870, three members of Oxford Lodge
were mayors; Wm. Grey, Thomas Cottle and Homer Brown;
while Joseph Sudsworth, James Kintrea, John McWhinnie and
Hugh Richardson, of King Solomon's Lodge were also
mayors.
Bro. William Grey, was mayor in 1 859, then from 1 866 to
1867 and then again from 1870 to 1871. He had erected the
first three-storey brick building found in Woodstock, a hotel
called the Royal Pavilion in 1 844 at a cost of 500 pounds. He
was clerk for East Oxford Township, board member for Brock
District Building Society, board member for Farmer and
Mechanics Building Society of the County of Oxford and was
elected as a town councillor for Woodstock during the town's
second municipal election, Jan. 1852. Grey was an Ensign in
Second Battalion, Oxford Militia (Blandford and East Oxford),
June 1847 to at least June 1852.
W.Bro. Homer Pratt Brown was the seventh initiated
member of the lodge. Brown was born on the 13 th of February
1822, in Cataraugus County, New York State, U.S.A. He
emigrated with his parents in 1835, settling at Paris, Upper
Canada. After leaving school, he worked for a short time on a
farm, and then apprenticed to the trade of a moulder.
In 1844, at Ingersoll, he got into conversation with a
founder, who induced the young prospective immigrant to stay
with him. He remained in that town for a short time, and his
employer, then desiring to locate a foundry in Woodstock, sent
Brown here as a partner. This partnership existed for ten years
under the name H.P Brown and Co. The H.P. Brown and Co.
iron foundry burned on the 8th of September 1852, and was
rebuilt on the same site. In 1854 Mr. Brown became sole
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
proprietor of the foundry, and for 13 years carried on the
business under the name of Woodstock Iron Works, H. P.
Brown, which was located on the north side of Dundas Street,
just west of Wellington St. N. By 1867 a 1 0-horsepower
engine had been installed and 26 men were on the payroll.
The company was a leader in its field and manufactured
stoves, threshing machines, plows, cultivators, mill gearing
and sheet metal ware. The business increased considerably
with the arrival of the railway in 1 853. The company was sold
in 1867, owing to the ill health of the owner.
Bro. Brown was a member of Town Council for 14 years,
and the Mayor in 1861. He was the Reeve for a number of
years and resigned in 1869 to accept the office of Treasurer of
the County6.
A BROTHER'S PLIGHT
In the late 1850s one of our charter members, Ebenezer
Kellogg, seemed to have fallen on hard times, beginning on
March 9th 1859. Moved that a subscription list be prepared
and circulated among the members of the Lodge for the
purpose of subscribing means towards Bro. Kellogg fs support.
February 8, 1 860, Moved that the Lodge devote out of its
funds the sum of $.50 per week in conjunction with King
Solomon's Lodge to go to the support of Bro. Kellogg.
On April 14th it was moved, . . . that five dollars be granted
out of the funds of the lodge to go to the support of Bro.
Kellogg and that an order be drawn on the treasury
accordingly, and that a sum of one dollar be allowed him
during the pleasure of the W.M. or any sum not to exceed
$50.00 the W.M. may think proper,
At the September 1 2th meeting in 1 860, It was moved and
seconded that the Master of the Lodge be empowered to act in
concert with the W.M. of King Solomon's Lodge to use some
means to effect to removal of Bro. Kellogg to his friends in
Texas and that the Sect, of this Lodge do apply to the Grand
Master asking if the two Lodges here would by any possibility
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
get assistance from the Grand Lodge to meet in the object they
have in mind.
On October 1 0th a response was received from our Grand
Lodge; Communications from the Grand Lodge Sec. relative
to the assisting of Bro. Kellogg to remove to his friends in
Texas, read
It was moved . . . that the thanks of this lodge be tendered
thro (sic) the Sec. of this Lodge to the M.W. the G.M. Bro.
Harris for there assistance in approximating the sum of forty
dollars out of the Grand Lodge fund for Bro. Kellogg.
At the November meeting in 1861, it was resolved
pursuant to former notice. That the following be placed on the
books - moved by Bro. R. W.Bro. Carroll and seconded by Bro.
Bell that the purpose of forming a relief fund each member
shall pay 25 cents on the regular meeting in the months of
Jan., April, July and October in each year - such relief fund to
be at the disposal of the W.M. or in his absence of the Senior
or Junior Warden and bills of relief not to be subject to clause
No. 16.
A PERMANENT LODGE ROOM
In June of 1 866, the first of many notations concerning a
new building was first entered, to be followed by a number of
others on an irregular basis.
A committee be appointed to confer with the committees of
King Solomon's Lodge and the Oxford Chapter to arrange
with Bro. Bryant with respect to new Lodge Room. In October
1868, Bro. McKinnon having stated to the lodge that he was
intending to erect a large building on the corner of Perry and
Dundas street by means of a joint stock company, a portion of
the building to be occupied by the Royal Canada Bank and
other offices. The third storey to be appropriated for the use of
the Masonic Lodges of the town if a suitable arrangement
could be made with them.
One of the major events that marked the end of this 13-
year period was, the moving into our first permanent Masonic
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Home. The future building was first discussed in September of
1869, a committee be appointed for the purpose of conferring
with any committee the Oxford Chapter and King Solomon 's
Lodge should appoint to consider a proposition from Mr. John
Mclntyre in reference to a new lodge room in the building he
is about to erect, adjoining his present store on Dundas St. In
March 1870, the committees appointed by Oxford Chapter,
Oxford Lodge and King Solomon 's Lodge in reference to the
advisability of obtaining a new lodge room, reported in favour
of accepting Mr. Mclntyre 's offer at a rental of $100 per
annum and taxes according to the plan prepared by G. W.
White the architect.
The next month, King Solomon's Lodge had on the
previous evening that the lodge had passed a resolution
declining to accept Mr. Mclntyre 's offer resolved to reduce the
rent to Oxford Chapter 18 and Oxford Lodge 76 to $30 per
annum, to remain in the present location. This was followed
shortly after with, appoint a committee to ascertain what
furniture would be required for the lodge room, procure an
estimate of the same.
After negotiations and renovations, on November 9th 1 870,
ceremony of the dedication of the new Lodge Hall was then
proceeded with and performed by R. W.Bro. P.J. Brown, the
D.D.G.M.. assisted by W.Bro. Sec. L. Beard as Grand Senior
Warden and W. Bro. B. James Scar ff as Grand Junior Warden
and Bro. the Rev. D. McDermitt as Grand Chaplain, Bro. W.
McCausland acting as Grand Organist.
It was moved and carried that a vote of thanks be given
(Mr.) James Hay and Bro. Thurston for the very satisfactory
manner in which their respective contracts for furniture of the
New Hall had been performed. Thanks to W. Bro. J. L. Scarfffor
the letter G. To Bro. McCausland for his kindness in allowing
the use of a harmonium on the present location. R. W.Bro. John
Turquand having paid his dues was restored to membership.
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THIRTEEN AT THIRTEEN
R. W.Bro. John Turquand presented the lodge with the pen
with which the warrant of the P. Grand Lodge of Canada was
signed by the late R. W. Bro. Sir Allan Napier McNah. also with
the certificate of Bro. Bernard Turquand (his father) a Royal
Arch Super Excellent Mas on from the Grand Lodge in Messina
the Island of Sicily, under the date 10th day of June 1812.
END OF AN ERA
In March of 1 870 the other important event which helps
mark an end to this 13-year period, was the passing of George
Whitehead. The director of ceremonies and the stewards were
then directed to make the necessary arrangements for the
funeral which was to take place on the Monday the 28th at
3:30. Both King Solomon's and Oxford Lodge were to meet at
the hall on that day at 2:00. The brethren then walked in
procession attended with the band of the 22nd battalion, The
Oxford Rifles which was placed at their disposal by the Col.
Commanding. The usual service of the order was performed.
The procession reformed and proceeded to St. Paul's
churchyard, where the remains of the R. W.Bro. Whitehead
were interred with masonic honours. The brethren returned to
the Lodge, where it was closed at 5:20 p.m.
CLOSURE
In later years officer progression took a very standard
formula. Starting as a Steward, then becoming the Inner Guard,
Jr. and Sr. Deacon and then Jr. and Sr. Warden before sitting
in the East as Worshipful Master. During our introductory
years, there was no semblance of officer progression. John
Turquand started in 1858 as the Master of Ceremonies,
Chaplain in 1859, Sr. Warden in 1860, then Wor. Master in
1861 and 1862. Six of the brethren took on the Secretary's
chair and Charles Whitehead was the one and only Treasurer.
John VanVoorhis, the railway contractor, began as Inner Guard
in 1857, then Tyler and finally was a Steward for two years.
Quite a number of brethren would only take one or two chairs
before leaving the officer ranks.
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Oxford Lodge's members, like many in our Grand
Jurisdiction, have covered a vast spectrum of our town's
population, socially, politically academically and
economically. No matter what their backgrounds or present
activities, they have formed an interconnecting mosaic and
would all meet on the level while in lodge as well as working
together in the community. A Level Mosaic.
Within the first 1 3 years there were 96 members; 1 3 charter
members, 14 affiliated members and 69 initiates. Their
occupations and stations in life varied, to say the least. There
were accountants, attorneys, cabinetmakers, carpenters, cigar
maker, clerks, confectioners, an engine driver, esquires,
farmers, gentlemen, one grocer; a harness maker, hotel
keepers, manufacturers, merchants, a miller, physicians,
plasterer, postmasters, one saddler, a stationmaster, teacher,
telegraph operator, tinsmith, veterinarian, yeoman.
As far as the charter members are concerned, George
Whitehead, Jordan Charles and Ebenezer Kellogg passed
away, while Warren Street, Ralph Woodcock and Joseph
Hamilton had demitted. Francis Ball was suspended for non-
payment of dues in 1864, then John Greig, John VanVoorhis,
John Carroll were all suspended in March of 1 868 for the same
offence. Henry DeBlanquiere would be suspended three years
later in 1 873. Charles Whitehead and John G. Vansittart would
remain active until their deaths in 1 891 and 1 901 respectively.
Some made a name for themselves before coming to
Woodstock, some made their mark here in town, while others
moved on to make a difference elsewhere.
Footnotes
1, 2. http://www.city.woodstock.on ca
3. Minute Book One of Oxford Lodge, 1857-1876
4, 5. The Canadian Biological Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of
Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1 880
6. Woodstock Sentinel Review
7. Dictionary Canadian Biographies Online
230
THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA
By V.W.Bro. Michael S. Ikonomidis
Port Hope Masonic Temple, Port Hope, Ontario
Saturday, May 27, 2006
EARLY HISTORY
In 600, Abbot Probus was commissioned by Pope Gregory the
Great to build a hospital in Jerusalem to treat and care for Christian
pilgrims to the Holy Land. In 800, Charlemagne, Emperor of the
Holy Roman Empire, enlarged Probus hostel and added a library
to it. About 200 years later, in 1005, Caliph El Hakim destroyed
the hostel and 3,000 other buildings.
Early in 1 020, prior to the first crusade, Benedictine monks of
the church of Sainte Marie-Latine had been established in
Jerusalem by merchants from Amalfi (Italy). The merchants had
the monopoly of western trade with the Levant (Middle East). The
monks obtained permission from the Caliph Ali az-Zahir
Monstrasser-billah of Egypt to build a hospital in Jerusalem, to
take care the Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land to visit
the birthplace of Christ.
The Hospital was dedicated to Saint John Elleemon (The
Almoner) the son of the King of Cyprus. He flourished in the sixth
century, and was elected Patriarch of Alexandria. He founded a
fraternity in Jerusalem with the principal purpose of nursing the
sick and wounded among the Christian pilgrims who visited the
Holy Land. Both the Greek and Latin Churches had canonized him
as St. John of Jerusalem.
The monks became known as the Freres Hospitallers de St.
Jean de Jerusalem. The new Order was confirmed by Pope Pascal
II in the year 1113, acknowledged as a religious one, and the
Knights followed the rule of Augustine of Hippo. The Hospital was
build on the site of the monastery of St. John the Baptist, where
the conception of St. John the Baptist had been announced by an
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
angel. It grew and eventually by the year 1 1 50, a pilgrim placed its
capacity at about 2,000 pilgrims and several hundred knights, a
figure rather exaggerated unless that meant all the persons cared
for in a year. At the same time the hospital had established a
number of houses in Europe to take care of pilgrims on their way
to the Holy Land.
In the early years of the 1 1th century the enigmatic figure of
Pierre Gerard appeared in Jerusalem. To all indications, to date, he
founded the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
In the beginning the members were only hospitallers and had
no military capacity or organization. When Jerusalem was taken by
the Crusaders (July 15, 1099) many of the wounded Crusaders
were cared for in the hospital, for which the hospitallers received
a large share of the booty taken from the infidels.
After Gerard's death, he was succeeded in 1 120 by Raymond
du Puys a Frankish Knight who had remained in Jerusalem after
the first crusade. He realized that a force was necessary in order to
protect the pilgrims in their travels through the Holy Land from the
marauding Saracens, who practically controlled the country outside
the walls of Jerusalem. With the approval of King Baldwin II,
King of Jerusalem and Pope Pascal II, Raymond du Puys took the
title of 'Grand Master for the first time, and organized the Order as
a military unit, hence the new name : The Knights of Saint John of
Jerusalem.
By the middle of the 1 2th century, the Order together with the
Knights Templar, shared on the battlefield the most important
posts alternately holding the front or rear guard, and through
donations and conquest, acquired enormous property. The
Hospitaller Knights constructed great fortresses at vulnerable
points in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and expanded its network of
hospices for service and the defence of pilgrims along important
routes of travel.
When the Kingdom was at the height of its glory the Knights
of St John possessed no fewer than seven strongholds, some
situated on the mountains and some on the coast. The posts of
Margat and Krals in the territory of Tripoli, and in Acre (which
they shared with the Templars) are the most famous. They enjoyed
the revenues of more than 140 estates in the Holy Land.
As to their European possessions, a writer of the 13th century
credits them with about 1 9,000 manses or manors. Thanks to these
resources, drawn from Europe, the Order was able to survive the
fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem especially the loss of Acre to the
Moslems in 1291, which caused the loss of all their possessions
and their departure from the Levant.
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THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA
THE ORGANIZATION
Originally the Order was comprised of three classes:
Knights of Justice: Sons of nobles, unblemished, of Catholic
religion. The Order conducted an exhaustive inquiry into the
background of each candidate. They were the Officers in the Army.
Chaplains: Not nobles. They acted as clerks and also served
the churches, chapels and hospitals of the Order.
Sergeants at Arms: Recruited from the people, and served
either in the military, at low commissions, or nursing capacities.
Later in Malta another class was added, that of: Knights of
Grace: This title was conferred on persons who had been of
conspicuous service to the Order. The Order was an international
organization with members of all countries in Latin Europe. Within
this multinational, uniform and integrated body, the national
groups were clearly distinguishable, and the term Tongue (lingual)
was issued to express the concept of nation or nationality.
Each Tongue maintained its own inn, where its members
assembled and offered hospitality to eminent visitors from W.
Europe.
THE RHODESIAN PERIOD (1306-1523)
In 1 29 1 defeated in the holy land by the Islamic powers, the
Knights, under their Grand Master Jean de Villiers, left Jerusalem
and went to Cyprus where their stay was not to last. In 1306 under
the Grand Master Foulques de Villaret retreating from the
advancing Islamic powers, the Order left Cyprus and moved to
Rhodes, and by 1309 completed the capture of the island. They
assumed the eponym Knights of Rhodes, and they enjoyed no
return territorial sovereignty for the next 2 1 7 years.
In 1312 the Knights joined the remaining Knights Templars,
subsequent to the suppression of the latter. The addition of the
Templars estates, despite the deductions made by King Philip IV
of Spain and other Europian Kings, increased the wealth of the
order. Philip IV assigned the property of the Templars in every
country except Aragon and Portugal.
When the Order reached Rhodes it was made up of seven
Tongues:
I England (included Knights from Scotland and Ireland)
II Italy (Navarre )
III Portugal
IV Germany
V France/ Auvergne
VI Provence
VII Aragon (included Knights from Spain) In 1461 it was decided
to split the Tongue of Aragon in two; the second was named the
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Tongue ofCastille, and assigned the eighth position.
Hence the symbol of the Order: The eight-pointed Cross.
THE HIERARCHY
The Grand Master, Absolute ruler of the Order for life.
Responsible to the authority of the Pope alone. The administrative
and military head of the Order. (It should be noted that of the 68
Grand Masters, 54 were of French origin.)
Each Tongue was responsible for specific duties:
Grand Commander, Second in command - Tongue of
Provence. Income, property, taxes. Stores; meat, soap, bronze and
other metals, wheat and cereals. Artillery.
Grand Marshal - Tongue of Portugal. Armaments,
ammunitions, horses, grand groom; grooms stables, cavalry.
Grand Hospitaller - Tongue of France/ Auvergne. Hospitals,
social welfare.
Grand Admiral - Tongue of Italy. Navy
Grand Drapier - Tongue ofAragon. Garments.
Grand Turcopilier - Tongue of England. Coastal defence
flotilla.
Grand Treasurer - Tongue of Germany. Finances, timber,
merchandise, livestock. Fortifications.
Grand Chancellor - Tongue of Castile. Grand Marshal's
Secretary.
THE RULES OF THE ORDER
Symbol: The eight-pointed cross, (now known as the Maltese
cross).
Obligation: The Knights were bound by the Augustinian rules
of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. They were also expected to
observe the eight obligations or aspirations:
Live in truth. (Spiritual Joy)
Have faith (Live without Malice)
Repent of sins
Give proof of humility
Love justice
Be merciful
Be sincere and whole-hearted
Endure persecution
Regalia: Black Habit and a black camel-hair Cloak. A white
Maltese Cross adorned the breast of the Habit. The cloak was only
worn on ceremonial occasions.
Standard: White Maltese Cross against a scarlet background.
THE GRAND MASTER'S PALACE
The Palace was the residence of the Grand Master and
administrative centre of the Knights. It was also the focus of social
234
THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA
and intellectual activity for the upper classes of Rhodes.
It is a rectangular building , 80m x 75m, arranged around a
courtyard approx. 50m x 40m. It stands at the highest N W point of
the Medieval city. It was built at the end of the 7th century to act
as the citadel of the early Byzantine fortress.
The main entrance is in the south side, and is flanked by two
imposing towers. The west side is pierced by a gate, in front of
which rises a tall square tower, probably the work of the G. Master
Pierre d,Aubusson (1476-1503).
On the north side there are underground vaults. These were
used as storerooms, and it was, probably, in these that part of the
civilian population took refuge in these in the event of an enemy
attack.
Sunk in the courtyard were ten enormous silos in which grain
was stored.
The ground floor was occupied by small and large vaulted
rooms, ranged around a square courtyard, which were used as
magazines, stables, kitchens etc.
Inside the entrance to the interior of the Palace was the Chapel
dedicated to St. Catherine (and very probably to Mary Magdalene).
On the first floor were various official rooms, such as the
Grand Council Chamber and the dining room, as well as the private
quarters of the Grand Master, which was commonly known as
Margarites.
During the Turkish occupation (after the departure of the
Knights from Rhodes), the palace was used as a prison. The Turks
had paid no heed to its maintenance and it had been left to
crumble. Its destruction was completed by the earthquakes which
affected Rhodes from time to time. The final blow was dealt in
1 856 when gunpowder stored in the vaults of nearby Church of St.
John blew up and only the ground floor of the palace survived.
During the Italian occupation (after the Turks) in 1937 the Italian
governor of the Dodecanese, CM. de Vecchi decided to restore the
ruined palace. The plans for the work, which was completed in
1940, were drawn by the Italian architect Vittorio Mesturino, who
also supervised their implementation.
In 1523 they capitulated to the Turks led by Suleiman I (The
Magnificent), and they were forced to leave Rhodes. The Knights
had nowhere to go, so they moved with what little they could carry
first to the island of Crete, and then to Civitavecchia in Italy. From
there they moved to Vitervo, and then to Niece. This period of
wandering lasted seven years.
It should be noted that Suleiman attacked Rhodes with a fleet
of 400 ships and over 200,000 men. The island was defended by a
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
force of 7,500 men in arms, only 290 of whom were Knights, the
remainder being mercenaries. In the ensuing battles, over the next
six months until the capitulation, the Turks lost 50,000 men, with
the Christians losing 2,000. Suleiman in homage to their heroism
lent them his ships to return to Europe.
THE MALTESE PERIOD (1530-1798)
In March of 1 530, under pressure from Pope Clement VIII, and
with agreement of king Charles V, the Knights under the Grand
Master Philippe Villiers de L' Isle- Adam accepted the islands of
Malta in perpetual control for the annual rent of a Falcon. They
became known as the Knights of Malta, and their symbol of "Eight-
pointed Cross" is now known as the Maltese Cross.
The Knights at once resumed the manner of life they had
practised at Rhodes for the last two centuries. In 1532 they
established a hospital with accommodations for 564 patients and
in 1533 they allowed Maltese Chaplains into the Order (Knights
of Grace).
With a fleet of more than seven galleys they resisted the
Barbary pirates who infested the western basin of the
Mediterranean. They helped King Charles V with his expeditions
against Tunis and Algiers which gave them the right to increase the
size of their fleet and give chase to the Turkish galleys operating
in that area. These enterprises drew upon them fresh attacks from
the Ottomans.
May 18, 1565, a Turkish fleet of 138 ships approached the
island, and 38,000 men disembarked at Marsaxlokk and 1 1 days
later another 3,000 men from another 38 ships joined them. The
siege started with an attack on Fort St. Elmo. The fort did not
survive the fierce battle, and June 23rd it fell to the Turks. It is said
that over 60,000 cannonballs were fired during the attack. All 100
Knights and 500 soldiers were massacred and their corpses were
floated in the Grand Harbour tied upon wooden crosses. This was
to intimidate the Knights, who in turn used the heads of Turkish
prisoners as cannon balls against the Turkish lines.
In the meantime, Grand Master de la Vallete strengthened the
defences of the cities of Birgu and Senglea. A small force of 600
men and 44 Knights arrived from Italy to assist the defenders. The
attack by the Turks was furious; however the Knights and the
Maltese people staunchly defended the fort and the Turks lost
2,500 men in July.
On Sept. 7, Don Garcia from Syracuse with 250 Knights
landed at Mellieha Bay. The next day the Turks raised the siege of
Malta and by Sept. 1 2th, they left the island. More than 9,000 men
were lost during the siege, of whom 219 were Knights. In
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THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA
retreating the Turks left approximately 30,000 slain.
After the victory against the Turks, the Knights turned to the
further development of Malta. A new fortress city was built and
named Valletta in honour of the Grand Master Jean Parisot de La
Vallette, under whose guidance the Knights and the people had
defied the Turkish siege.
LATER HISTORY
The Knights eventually lost sight of their vows of poverty
although generally speaking they fought hard to live by their code,
the eight aspirations symbolized by the eight-pointed cross. As
time went on, the Order became redundant as a fighting force.
When the French revolution broke out , the French Knights were
deeply divided concerning their loyalties stood. In 1791, a decree
deprived the French Knights of their nationality and in September
of 1792 The Order's estates and holdings in France were
confiscated.
On May 1 0, 1 798, Napoleon with his fleet on the way to Egypt
arrived outside Grand Harbour, in Valletta, on the pretext that his
expedition needed fresh water supplies and he found an Order
which had lost its morale. Not surprisingly, the French navy did
not have to fire a single shot to secure Malta from the Knights. On
the 12th of June, Napoleon entered Valletta and the Grand Master
de Hompesch surrendered. The Knights left in a hurry and
Napoleon followed them six days later.
A fraction of the Knights moved to Russia where Czar Paul I
assigned them considerable property elected him the Grand Master.
The election was most irregular, since the Czar was married and
not even a Catholic, and never ratified by Pope Pius VI.
Another fraction took hold in England under the direct
patronage of the Crown. This is the Venerable Order headed by the
Queen, and runs the Commonwealth-wide St. John Ambulance
service today.
A large fragment of the knights became very closely integrated
with the Papacy, moved to Rome and in 1834 was established
under the name Sovereign Military Order of Malta or S.M.O.M.
and is considered to be the most direct successor to the medieval
Knights Hospitaller.
Other groups, (Mimic Orders) such as the Protestant Johanniter
Order in Germany were formed or evolved from the Order and
were scattered all over Europe. There are now several groups of
Knights, with different insignia that have some sort of historical
or other claimed connection to the original Order, and all wear the
same eight-pointed Maltese cross.
As a kind of chivalric union, S.M.O.M., the Venerable Order,
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
and some of the Johanniter Order, have joined together to form the
"Alliance " which presents itself as the canonical Continuation of
the Order of St. John.
THE ORDER TODAY
The full official name of S.M.O.M. is Sovereign Military
Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of
Malta [Sovrano Militare Ordine di San Giovanni di
Gerusalemme di Rodi e di Malta, in Italian]. Its two
headquarters in Rome, namely the Palazzo Malta, Via dei
Condotti 68, where the Grand Master resides, and government
bodies meet, and the Villa Malta on the Aventine which hosts
the Grand Priory of Rome, the Embassy of the Order to the
Vatican and the Embassy of the Order to Italy are granted
extra-territoriality. However, unlike the Holy See, S.M.O.M.
has no sovereign territory.
Its military role becoming obsolete, service to the poor
and the sick is its foremost occupation and, in the second half
of the 1 9th century, the national associations began to emerge
and the Order assumed its present structure.
With a membership of approximately 1 1 ,000 in 54
countries, the Order is recognized under international law as
& sovereign entity and exchanges ambassadors and diplomatic
representatives with over 90 countries.
August 24, 1 994, the Order was admitted to the United
Nations with the status of Permanent Observer, similar to the
status granted to the Red Cross and other relief organizations,
which allows the Order to participate in the discussions of the
General Assembly. This allows the Order to intervene with
timely and effective reaction in the event of natural disaster or
armed conflict.
The Order of Malta operates dozens of hospitals and
clinics around the world. It runs nursing homes, assisted
living facilities for the elderly, and hospices for the terminally
ill. For the last 40 years has been dealing extensively with the
treatment of leprosy, and it has launched programs to assist
mothers and children in the third world suffering from AIDS.
The Order works on the front line in natural disasters and
armed conflicts around the world. It sets up first aid and
potable water stations and provides food and other emergency
supplies. In recent years has been highly active in Kosovo and
238
THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA
Afghanistan, and has established medical and nutrition
programs in Africa, Asia, and South America.
The largest joint activity of the Order is in the Holy
Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem. Since 1990, more
than 25,000 babies have been born there. The Hospital
provides state-of-the-art pre- and post-natal care to women of
all races and religions free of charge.
All members of the Order worldwide belong to a Priory,
a Sub-Priory, or a National Association. The Knights are
referred to as "Fra ", short for "Frater \ the Latin word for
brother.
There are three classes of membership:
First Class - The Knights of Justice and Conventual
Chaplains, have taken the three monastic vows of poverty,
chastity, and obedience;
Second Class - Knights and Dames In Obedience, make
a promise to strive for Christian perfection in accordance with
the spirit of the Order;
Third Class- Knights and Dames of Honour and Devotion,
Conventual Chaplains ad honorem, Knights and Dames of
Grace and Devotion, Magistral Chaplains, Knights and
Dames of Magistral Grace.
The Officials: The Prince and Grand Master (His Most
Eminent Highness), The High Officers, The Grand
Commander, The Grand Chancellor, The Grand Hospitaller,
The Receiver of the Common Treasure (six councillors), The
Government Council (six members), The Board of Auditors
(Seven members), Cardinalis Patronus (His Eminence,
Cardinal), The Prelate of the Order (His Excellency,
Archbishop).
The Regalia: The Knights have a modern out-of-door
uniform, but on festival occasions they wear the full costume
of the Order, Mantles of black velvet adorned with a large
white Maltese Cross on the left shoulder, white crossed red
tunics, hats with a white and black ostrich plume, knightly
swords and golden spurred boots.
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
BIBLIOGRAPHY
E. Kollias The Knights of Rhodes.
T.H. Gilmour Knights of Malta, Ancient and Modern.
W.L. Camillieri. Internet page: Knights of Malta.
Sovereign Military Order of Malta Federal Association, U.S.A.
Internet page.
F.L. Scicluna Knights of Malta.
Catholic Encyclopedia Knights of Malta.
M.M. Trischitta The Knights of Malta, a Legend towards the
future.
P.P. Read The Templars
Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge Vol. 14 - L. De
Malczovich Knights of Malta Vol. 26 B W. J. C. Crawley The
Templar Legends in Freemasonry
Wikipedia encyclopedia Knights Hospitaller. Internet page.
240
Ionic Lodge No. 25 G.R.C.
Historical Notes and Prominent Members
By W. Bro. Paul Skazin
The Heritage Lodge
Cambridge, Ontario
September 20, 2006
Overview
This paper has been compiled from articles and information
provided by various members of Ionic Lodge No. 25, including the
writer, and their families. Some information was derived from a
book printed in 1899 covering the first 50 years of Ionic Lodge.
There is only one known remaining copy of this book, however, its
contents have been scanned and are available in digital format
(contact the writer). Some of the graphics come from photographs
of paintings hanging in a variety of locations and these are noted in
the addendum. I acknowledge the efforts of R.W.Bro. John
Boersma in soliciting articles from the membership of the Lodge
and compiling backgrounds covering many not mentioned herein.
Special mention must be given to Bro. Brian King who
contributed the services of his investigation business, at
considerable expense, to provide additional information on Bro.
Alexander Dunn, much of which is only briefly reflected in the
article herein. This information has been filed with Lodge archives.
The paper commences with a Short History of Ionic Lodge
continues with a section on the visit to Ionic Lodge in 1 890 by
Queen Victoria's son, the Duke of Connaught, and ends with a
articles on a selected number of prominent members of Ionic Lodge.
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
A SHORT HISTORY OF IONIC LODGE, NO. 25 G.R.C.
On July 6, 1 847, R. W.Bro. Allan Napier MacNab, Provincial
Grand Master for the Province of Canada West, Acting under
Thomas Dundas, Earl of Zetland, etc., etc., Grand Master of the Most
Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of
England, granted his dispensation for the formation of The Ionic
Lodge, to meet in the City of Toronto.
The petitioners for the dispensation were: Francis Richardson,
Chemist; Kivas Tully, Architect; Augustus Baldwin Sullivan, Clerk;
Wm. Murdock Gorrie, Wharfinger; Chas. Thos. Fitzgibbon,
Solicitor; Robert Wells, Engineer; James Keiller, Clerk; Wm.
Botsford Jarvis, Sheriff; R.S. Deniord, Engineer; Alfred Hiram
Coulson, Merchant; Matthew Craig, Builder; Charles Berzcy,
Postmaster; Davidson Monroe Murray, Gentleman; William
Williamson, Clerk; Richard Watson, Printer; Louis Wm. Dessauer,
Artist; William Crewe, Physician.
The first meeting of the Lodge was held July 8, 1 847, in the
Lodge room in the upper story of the Wellington Buildings, on the
north side of King Street, between Toronto and Church Streets.
One early initiate of great note was Alexander Roberts Dunn,
who won the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the Crimea, in the charge
of the Light Brigade, the first Canadian to be awarded this honour.
Perhaps the most memorable event of the first 50 years of Ionic's
history was the visit to the Lodge on May 30, 1890 of H.R.H. (and
Right Worshipful Bro.) the Duke of Connaught, the third son of
Queen Victoria, later Governor General of Canada.
On July 8, 1 897, the Lodge celebrated the 50th anniversary of its
institution at a meeting that was honoured by the presence of
R. W.Bro. Richardson, the first Master, M. W.Bro. Kivas Tully, the
first S.W., and M.W. James Kirkpatrick Kerr, the first member of
Ionic to hold the office of Grand Master (1875-77). In further
celebration of the event a dinner was given at the National Club on
November 12, 1897.
On June 7, 1922, there was a simple, but impressive celebration
of the 75th Anniversary. At the supper table afterwards, V. W.Bro.
A.R. Boswell, K.C. (W.M., 1 871 and 1 873), presided. A cheque for
$2,000 to endow the Ionic Memorial Cot was given to the Home for
Incurable Children (now Bloorview McMillan Centre).
The outbreak of war in 1939 naturally had its effect on the
242
IONIC LODGE No 25 HISTORICAL NOTES AND PROMINENT MEMBERS
Lodge, and 36 brethren served with the forces. The Lodge lost one
member on active service, Bro. Robert W. Harcourt, who was killed
in a bombing raid.
The Lodge attained its 100th anniversary in 1947 and this
singular event was suitably celebrated. Among the special events was
a meeting held on November 5, 1947, at which time the Lodge was
honoured by the attendance of the M.W. the Grand Master,
M.W.Bro. Thomas H. Simpson, A divine service was held on the
evening of Sunday November 6, 1947, at St. James' Cathedral,
conducted by the Dean, The Very Rev. Charles E. Riley, Chaplain of
the Lodge. The sermon was given by The Most Rev. and R.W.Bro.
George F. Kingston, a Past Master of Ionic Lodge and Primate of All
Canada. The final event was a dinner held at the Toronto Club on
November 20, 1947.
The years 1947-75 were characterized by strong growth and
development for Canada, while Ionic Lodge continued as a firm
element in the Masonic structure. During this period, members of the
Lodge gained prominence in business, in the professions and in
government, and certain of them were privileged to serve the Crown
as ministers of the Federal and Ontario Governments. One
distinguished member, Bro. James Keiller Mackay, Q.C., was a
Justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario from 1936 to 1957 and then
served as Lieutenant-Governor of the Province from 1957 to 1963.
V. W.Bro Dana Porter was Chief Justice of Ontario and presided over
the Court of Appeal from 1958 until his death in 1967.
Notable brethren of the last quarter of the century include
R.W.Bro. Donald Fleming, who died in 1986 within months of his
50th anniversary as a Mason, R.W.Bro. Allan Leal, and V.W.Bros A.
Foster Roger, Arthur Bonney, and Douglas Betts, all attained Grand
Lodge rank in these years; and R.W.Bro. C. Stephen Fox-Revett was
elected D.D.G.M. for Toronto District 3 in 1984.
The 150th Anniversary of the Lodge was celebrated on
September 22, 1997 at which time a reception was held in the
Lieutenant Governor's (the Honourable Hilary Weston) suite in
Queens Park at which time a cheque was presented to Bloorview
Macmillan Centre. Following the presentation a formal dinner was
held at The Toronto Club with the keynote speech delivered by the
Grand Master, M.W.Bro. William Anderson.
Learning that H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught was returning to
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
England from his Indian command, via Canada, W.Bro. G. Sterling
Ryerson, then the W.M. of the Lodge, thought that some recognition
of so distinguished a Mason should come before the Craft in
Toronto. It was a happy thought, well conceived and promptly acted
upon. While yet on his journey from the west, His Royal Highness
received a personal invitation from the W.M. to meet the brethren
during his brief stay in Toronto. It was at once graciously
acknowledged and fraternally accepted.
An emergent meeting was called for the evening of the May 30,
1 890. Never before had the Toronto Street Hall witnessed such a
gathering. At nine o'clock there were 700 brethren in and about the
spacious Lodge room including Grand Lodge Officers, present and
past, all the W.M.s of the city Lodges and nearly 130 past masters.
The R. W.Bro. entered the Lodge, accompanied by V. W.Bro Col.
V. F. Cavaye, P.G. Steward of the Grand Lodge of Bombay, and
escorted by M. W.Bro. J. K. Kerr, P.G.M. of the G.L. of Canada;
R. W.Bro. W. Roaf, D.D.G.M. Toronto District; R.W.Bro. F. M.
Morson, G.R.,and R.W.Bro. G. J. Bennett, P.G.R.
As the R.W.Bro. entered the Lodge, the brethren united in
singing the first verse of the National Anthem. The R.W.Bro.
advanced to the altar and saluted the W.M. with the sign of
salutation. M. W.Bro. J. K. Kerr then presented R.W.Bro. H.R.H. the
Duke of Connaught, Provincial Grand Master of Sussex and District
Grand Master of Bombay to the W.M. W.Bro. Ryerson. then
addressed the R.W.Bro. who remained standing at the altar in part as
follows:
We welcome your Royal Highness as the brother and
representative of H.R.H. the M.W. the Grand Master of England, of
whom it is needless for me to say more than that we honour him as
a man and as the first officer of the first Grand Lodge of the greatest
Empire the world has ever seen. And further, we welcome you as the
son of our beloved sovereign lady the Queen, whose public and
private virtues make her a model among women, a constitutional
ruler, a true and faithful wife, a loving and devoted mother. She will
ever reign in the hearts of her people, and generations yet unborn
will tell their children's children of the golden days when there
reigned in England the great and good Victoria May God Save the
Queen.
The W.M. then requested the R. W.Bro. to advance to the east.
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IONIC LODGE No 25 HISTORICAL NOTES AND PROMINENT MEMBERS
The R.W.Bro. advanced to the east and assumed the gavel, and by
direction of the W.M. the assembled brethren saluted the royal visitor
with the grand honours.
The W.M. of the Lodge addressing the R.W.Bro. asked if it was
his pleasure to receive an address from the brethren. The R.W.Bro.
signified his desire to have the address presented (in part) as follows:
May it please your Royal Highness, we the District Deputy Grand
Master of the 11th Masonic District, officers of Grand Lodge,
Masters of Lodges in the City of Toronto, and brethren under the
jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
Canada, beg permission to tender our sincere congratulations on your
safe return to this country.
We hold your Royal Highness in loving remembrance as a
soldier serving Her Majesty in our midst, and we recall the historical
Act that the only other royal personage who has so served in Canada
was your grandfather, his late Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, and
that he like yourself was an enthusiastic Mason and a distinguished
member of the Craft.
We deeply regret that your stay among us is to be of such short
duration as not to permit of your Royal Highness taking an active
interest in the affairs of the Grand Lodge of Canada.
Nothing has been more noteworthy than the distinguished
service rendered to the Craft by the members of the Royal family,
from the time of the union of the Grand Lodges of England in 1813
under His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex down to the present
day. We recognize in the distinguished person of the Grand Master
of England, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, a Mason in act as well as in
word, and feel that no Grand Master who has preceded him has filled
that great office with more dignity and shown more zeal for the
welfare of the Craft.
The R.W.Bro. replied to the address as follows: I thank you for
the magnificent reception you have given me, far surpassing anything
I had anticipated, and which I will cherish as one of the most pleasant
recollections of my trip through Canada. I attribute this great
gathering of the brethren to a desire on their part to manifest their
feeling towards the Queen, my beloved mother, to my brother the
Grand Master, and as a tribute to the interest I have always taken in
the Craft. 1 represent, I believe, more than any other brother Mason
the Imperial idea in Masonry, holding at present the offices of
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
Provincial Grand Master of Sussex, District Grand Master of
Bombay and Great Prior of Ireland.
It is now nineteen years since I became a member of the Craft,
and I have never forgotten the impression made on me when I was
initiated. The fraternity is a noble one, whose influence is ever
extending, and in whose ranks the brethren meet on a common plane
of equality and brotherly love. In the old lad the support of the
Masonic charitable institutions, and the care given by the Craft to
those who need, show the great principles on which the order is
founded to be relief and charity.
It is pleasing to learn of the loyalty of the brethren in Canada. I
will long remember this visit and your magnificent reception, and
when I reach home I will take an early opportunity of conveying
your expressions of good- will to the Queen and the Grand Master. I
thank you most warmly, Worshipful Sir, for this great demonstration.
At the W.M's request the Grand Lodge officers and the W.M.
and P.M.s present withdrew from the Lodge in order that they might
be presented to His Royal Highness.
The reception took place in the adjoining chapter room. The
presentations were made by R. W.Bro. W. Roaf, D.D.G.M., the royal
brother acknowledging each introduction with a cordial handshake.
At the close of the ceremony the brethren formed a circle, and, with
R. W.Bro. Wm. Simpson, of St. John's Lodge leading, united in
singing Auld Lang Syne, H.R.H. joining in the fraternal chain at the
close, with evident pleasure. On retiring the distinguished brother
was saluted with three loyal ringing cheers, and an occasion at once
important and memorable came to an end.
SOME PROMINENT MEMBERS
R.W.Bro. Francis Richardson (1814-1898)
Chemist and druggist. The first Master of Ionic Lodge in 1847.
Also W.M. 1848, 1850, 1851 and 1862..
He had not seen his 30th year when, in 1842 he sailed from his
native town Plymouth where in March of the same year he had
received his Master Mason's degree. After a voyage of 45 days he
landed at Quebec, and thence journeyed to Toronto by the Ottawa
and Kingston route. On his arrival he promptly affiliated with St.
Andrew's Lodge, where his abilities were at once recognized, and in
a short time he became its active W.M. Later he was selected for the
important position of Provincial Grand Secretary, and as vigilantly
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IONIC LODGE No 25 HISTORICAL NOTES AND PROMINENT MEMBERS
as he conducted his own commercial business, so too he guarded the
interests of the Craft. Ionic Lodge was formed, and over that young
organization's first two years of life he paternally watched as its
Master.
He was made a Royal Arch Mason in St. John's Chapter. No. 4,
and subsequently was active and prominent in Ionic and St. Andrew's
Chapters, over both of which he presided. In April 1853, he was
knighted in Hugh de Payens Encampment of Knights Templars at
Kingston, his conductor during the ceremony being Rt. Hon. Sir John
A. MacDonald, then a practicing lawyer in the Limestone City. In the
same year Bro. Richardson presided at the laying of the corner stone
of the courthouse at Whitby, and was presented with a silver trowel.
In July 1858 he was elected Grand Registrar and in January
following, upon the resignation of R. W.Bro. F. W. Cumberland,
D.D.G.M., Toronto District, who was about to leave for Europe, was
appointed to succeed him. In July 1859, he was elected to same
office by the Lodges of the district. As D.D.G.M. his characteristic
energy did much to advance the work of the Craft, and his mature
advice and extensive knowledge of men and events were much
sought after during the trying, period when the fraternity was so
divided on the question of independence from the Grand Lodge of
England.
M.W.Bro. Kivas Tully (1820-1905)
Retired from St. Andrews Lodge in 1 847 to become a Charter
member of Ionic Lodge. He was the first Senior Warden. He retired
from Ionic Lodge in 1849 to become Charter Master of King
Solomon 22. He was an ardent advocate of Masonic independence
and therefore he and many others did not believe in multiple Lodge
memberships.
In October 1 853 Kivas Tully gave notice of a motion that the
P.G.L. should petition the Grand Lodge of England for permission
for the Lodges to form themselves into an independent Grand Lodge.
In May 1854 the Provincial Grand Secretary (Francis Richardson)
was instructed to write to England noting that no acknowledgment
had been received of either of the petition or of the money, which
had been sent for charters and certificates. Finally, on September 25,
1855 the reply was issued. A special committee of the Board of
General Purposes in London reported on the Canadian requests. It
gave its opinion that the expediency and propriety of rejecting or
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
complying with the prayer therefore rests with the M.W. Grand
Master. The reply came too late and it said too little. The patience of
the Canadian Brethren had been exhausted and the Grand Lodge of
Canada was formed in November 1 855. Bro. Tully was a member of
the joint committee appointed in 1 857 to promote the union between
the Ancient Grand Lodge, formerly the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Canada West, and the then recently formed independent Grand
Lodge of Canada.
Kivas Tully was a structural engineer and architect of many
public buildings. Alderman and Councilor of the City of Toronto in
1 852 and 1859; appointed Architect and Engineer of Public Works
for the Province of Ontario in 1 867; member of St. George's Church
and churchwarden 1855. Of his many important works we mention
Trinity College, Bank of Montreal building (now Hockey Hall of
Fame) located at the northeast corner of Yonge and Front streets
The Welland County Court House, built in 1 855-1856 and Victoria
Hall in Cobourg built in 1 860. He was regarded as one of Canada's
leading architects and is noted for his pleasing proportions found
in all of his designs. His name is familiar wherever the growth of the
province has made the erection of great public buildings necessary.
Bro. Alexander Roberts Dunn, V.C. (1833-1868)
Initiated in Ionic Lodge by special dispensation on December 1 6,
1856.. His father was the Honourable V.W.Bro. John Henry Dunn,
Receiver General of Upper Canada.
Bro. Dunn was educated at Upper Canada College and Harrow
England. He was a member of the 11th Prince Albert's Own
Regiment of Light Dragoons in the British army. He helped organize
the 1 1 0th (Prince of Wales Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot, a
British unit raised in Canada. He later became its commanding
officer in Gibraltar. In 1 852, he served in the Crimean War during
which the 21 -year-old lieutenant made history on October 25, 1 854.
On that blood-drenched day, the 1 1th galloped against Russian
guns at Balaclava in the now renowned Charge of the Light Brigade.
A non-commissioned officer riding a slow and exhausted mount
began falling behind. The straggler's comrades began shouting,
Sergeant Bentley's cut off. In the chaos of battle, Bro. Dunn turned
his charger back to rescue the sergeant, who was being pressed by
three Russian dragoons (heavily armed mounted troopers). The rest
of the brigade raced on, leaving Bro. Dunn, alone, to spur his horse
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toward the first dragoon and sabre him out of the saddle, giving
Bentley time to escape.
Bro. Dunn was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest
medal For Valour. The Order was instituted on January 29, 1 856.
Brother Alexander Dunn was one of the first recipients and the first
Canadian-born man to be so honoured.
He served in the Indian Mutiny in 1 857 and later commanded the
1 00th or Prince of Wales, Canadian regiment. Subsequent service
took him to Gibraltar, Malta and Abyssinia (Ethiopia now Eritrea).
In 1 864, at the age of 3 1 , he was promoted to colonel, the youngest
in the British Army. On January 25th 1 868 he met with death, while
on a hunting trip in Senafe Abyssinia, due to the accidental discharge
of his own rifle.
The following is a quote from the Kingston Whig-Standard,
submitted by Jim MacMillan, February 21, 2001. Troops bring
dignity back to war herofs grave, by Sharon Lindores:
Senafe, Eritrea - In a tiny ramshackle graveyard, tucked behind
an African hospital in ruins, lies the grave of a great Canadian hero.
In 1856, Alexander Robert Dunn was the first Canadian to earn a
Victoria Cross.This past weekend troops on a United Nations
peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea cleaned up the decrepit
site. It was really gross said Lt. Earl Maher, who sent 1 3 troops to do
the job. The graveyard wasn't looked after at all. The soldiers
removed goat skulls, bones and excrement. I think the locals must
have used it as an animal pen until the wall around the graveyard fell
down. The soldiers, all engineers from CFB Gagetown in New
Brunswick, spent an entire day at the site.
Twenty-five wheelbarrows full of garbage and debris were
cleared away. The stonewall that encompasses the handful of graves
in the yard is fixed, the wrought iron gate freshly painted and the
cross that had broken of Dunn's tombstone once again in place. It
was a mark of respect for someone who won the Victoria Cross, said
Maher, a Queen's University grad. The abandoned graveside was
discovered around Christmas by Maj. Steve Beattie, a British
Exchange officer based at CFB Kingston who was helping the UN
peacekeeping mission. A bit of a history buff, Beattie knew when he
saw the grave that Dunn was an important figure. The chief of
defense Staff, the minister of national defence and the deputy chief
of defence all recently visited the site. Ottawa is involved and they're
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
interested in possibly exhuming the body and repatriating it back to
Canada, Maher said. For the time being Dunn can rest in peace in the
small town of Senafe, in the temporary security zone being
established between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
M.W.Bro. James Kirkpatrick Kerr (1841-1916)
Barrister. M.W.Bro. Kerr was initiated into Ionic Lodge in the
fall of 1863 and was installed as Secretary in December 1863. The
following December he was installed as Junior Warden and in
December 1 865 as Master, a position he held for two years. In 1 870
he was elected District Deputy Grand Master.
He was elected Deputy Grand Master in 1874 and became
Acting Grand Master after the death of M.W.Bro. William Mercer
Wilson in January 1875. In July of 1875 at the Annual
Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada held in London
Ontario, he was elected Grand Master.
He was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Wilfred Laurier
on March 1 2, 1 903 and was Speaker of the Senate from Jan. 1 4,
1909 to Oct. 22, 191 1 . He served until his death in 1916.
Also refer Heritage Lodge Proceedings Vol. 8, 1984-1985
wherein Wallace McLeod introduced Allan Leal, who gave an
elaborate speech about James Kirkpatrick Kerr.
W.Bro. Sir William Dillon Otter (1843-1929)
Initiated in Ionic in February 1869; installed as Master in 1873.
Retired February 5, 1878. Rejoined July 1, 1920. William Dillon
Otter was the son of Alfred William Otter and Anna de la Hooke, he
was born on December 3, 1843 near Clinton, Upper Canada. His
father was a farmer in the area but subsequently moved to Toronto.
He was educated at Upper Canada College. In 1865, he married
Marian Porter, they had one daughter.
William Otter is often regarded as Canada's first professional
soldier. In 1861 'clerk' Otter entered the volunteer militia. The year
1 864 saw him commissioned in the Queen's Own Rifles. He fell in
love with the military way of life, served initially as a rifleman and
quickly progressed to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He first saw active
service in the Fenian Raids of 1 866 at the Battle of Ridgeway, where
the Canadians squandered an easy victory due to confusion in
commands. Upon his promotion in 1875, Lieutenant Colonel Otter
assumed command of The Queen's Own Rifles. The permanent
force's School of Infantry, in Toronto was under his command from
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IONIC LODGE No 25 HISTORICAL NOTES AND PROMINENT MEMBERS
1883 to 1889.
From his pen came the infantry manual, The Guide, which
became an indispensable soldier's handbook and went into many
editions. During the Riel Rebellion of 1885 he was sent to the N.W.
Territories to assist General Frederick Middleton. Upon news of the
murder of white settlers at Frog Lake, he was placed in charge of a
column to relieve the town of Battleford and surrounding areas from
the threat of Indian attack.
In 1897 he headed the Canadian contingent for Queen Victoria's
Diamond Jubilee.
In 1 899, at the time of the Boer War, Otter took the first
Canadian contingent, The Royal Canadian Regiment, to South
Africa. It consisted of eight 125 men units. Although untrained, Otter
formed them into a fighting unit within 3 months. He was wounded
and was created C.B. (Companion Order of the Bath.)
Otter had a no nonsense, no frills approach to soldiering, his
convictions set by his memory of young militiamen fleeing in panic
at Ridgeway. He was grimly determined that Canadian troops would
not again fall into disarray on the battlefield. Upon him rested the
responsible for drilling and disciplining Canadian troops in South
Africa, ensuring they were equals to the British regulars. Many
British officers considered the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian
Regiment of Infantry to be the best in South Africa.
Otter was the first Canadian-born Chief of Staff of Canada's military
(1908 -1910). During World War I he was Director of Internment
Operations of enemy nationals resident in Canada He was knighted
in 1913 and retired in 1920 as General Sir William Otter KCMG,
CVO, CB.(Knight Commander St Michael & St George,
Commander Royal Victorian Order.)
Bro. Sir William Mulock (1844-1944)
Initiated in Ionic Lodge on April 22, 1869. Born January 19,
1 844, at Bondhead, Upper Canada, died in Toronto, October 1 , 1 944.
Son of Thomas Homan Mulock M.D., a native of King's County,
Ireland, and Mary, daughter of John Cawthra, a member of the Upper
Canada legislature. William was 7 when his father died and his
mother raised him on a farm she bought near Newmarket. She
decided that William should be a lawyer like many of the men in
her family and he was sent to study at the University of Toronto.
After graduation, he worked as a junior in a law office for $80 a
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
year and got a job as a housemaster at Upper Canada College to
earn enough money to live.
In 1 867 he was called to the bar. He practiced Law in Toronto
and entered politics as a liberal representing North York in the
Canadian House of Commons, 1 882-1905. On the formation of (Sir)
Wilfred Laurier's Ministry of all Talents in 1 896, he was appointed
postmaster general. In 1 898 he introduced a two-cent postage rate
from Canada to all parts of the British Empire. He was active in
negotiations leading to the laying of the Pacific cable in 1 902 to
complete the all red-line of empire communications. He held his
portfolio until 1905, serving as Canada's first minister of Labour,
1900-05. In organizing the Labour Department he introduced W, L.
Mackenzie King to public life as his deputy minister. Appointed
Chief Justice of the Exchequer Court of Ontario, 1905: of the Court
of Appeal 1923; retired 1936. A senator from the University of
Toronto from 1873, he served as vice-chancellor, 1881-1900; and
chancellor, 1924-1944.
A legendary figure in his own lifetime, he retained in his
hundredth year an amazing possession of his faculties. When he died
on October 1, 1944, his death was described as the fall of a mighty
oak that had towered above all others for longer than most people
could remember, he was 1 0 1 and considered the Grand Old Man of
Canada. Prime Minister Mackenzie King said, He will be
remembered as being among the makers of Canada.
V.W.Bro. Dr. Gen. George Ansel Sterling Ryerson M.D., PGSD
(1854-1925)
Master Ionic No. 25 in 1880. He was the first President of the
Canadian Red Cross Society. In his memoirs Ryerson wrote The
Red Cross Flag was first flown in Canada during the battle of
Batoche, May 9-12, 1885. Batoche, Saskatchewan, was a post
office at the side of a Metis Village where Louis Riel established
his Head Quarters during the rebellion of 1885. Here, the main
engagement took place between the Metis forces under Gabriel
Dumont and the militia under General Middleton. Ryerson decided
that the horse drawn springwagon, used as a makeshift ambulance,
should have some mark to distinguish it from other wagons. He
therefore borrowed some turkey red factory cotton from the
artillery column, cut it into two strips, and stitched them unto a
white square. That flag is part of the John Ross Robertson
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collection at the Toronto Public Library.
W.Bro. Sir Allan Bristol Aylesworth (1854-1952)
Barrister, Initiated in Ionic Lodge on February 1, 1887.
Installed as Master December 3, 1895. The son of John Bell
Aylesworth and Catharine Bristol; of United Empire Loyalist
descent.
W.Bro. Aylesworth was born in Camden Township, Upper
Canada on November 27, 1 854. He achieved prominence when he
was appointed postmaster General of Canada in 1 905. He served as
minister of Labour in the Laurier Cabinet in 1 905 and as minister
of Justice from 1906 to 191 1. In the early 1900s, he was part of a
Commission that argued the Alaskan/Canadian boundaries. In
1910, he acted as British Agent in the North American Coast
Fisheries arbitration at The Hague. For that service he received a
Knighthood and became Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth K.C.M.G.
(Knight Commander of St Michael and St George).
He nominated Mackenzie King for the leadership of the Liberal
Party, resulting in King later becoming Prime Minister of Canada.
He was called to the Canadian Senate in 1 923 where he served until
February 13, 1952, when he passed to the Grand Lodge Above.
M.W.Bro. Frederick Weir Harcourt G.M. (1856-1939)
Barrister. Initiated in Ionic May 7, 1889; W.M. Ionic 1898.
G.M. 1919-1921. In his first report to Grand Lodge he noted an
unprecedented increase in membership with 9,000 initiations. May
I sound a note of warning? he said to Masters and Members of
every Lodge, Guard your portals with unremitting diligence. Do
not admit any applicant without first making the most careful
investigation. Remember, one black sheep may taint the whole
flock. Such is your duty to the Craft. He reported that the Grand
Secretary had compiled a new digest of rulings; that John Ross
Robertson's Masonic Library had been handed to him and he had
arranged for it to be kept safe in the Toronto Masonic Temple.
He maintained a hectic pace of hundreds of visitations,
explaining that it is the right of every Lodge, some time during its
existence, to have a visit from the Grand Master. Harcourt Lodge
No. 581, GRC - established in 1921 - was named after him
Bro. Lt. Col. John Keiller Mackay (1888-1970)
Initiated in Ionic Lodge in 1925. He, was born on July 11, 1888,
in Pictou, N.S., educated at the Royal Military College of Canada
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
and earned his B.A. in 1912 at St. Francis Xavier University. His
LLB was earned at Dalhousie University. Serving overseas in World
War I, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the
6th Brigade C.F.A., in 1916. From 191 7 to 1918 he commanded the
MacKay Group of three mobile brigades of artillery. Twice wounded
and three times mentioned in dispatches, he won the D.S.O.
(Distinguished Service Order).
Called to the bar of Nova Scotia in 1922 and Ontario in 1923
(K.C. 1933). Bro Mackay practiced law in Toronto and became a
specialist in criminal law. He was appointed a judge of the Ontario
Supreme Court in 1935 and of the Provincial Court of Appeal in
1950 and was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in 1957.
R.W.Bro. Major C. Stephen Fox-Revett, CD, KCLJ, GOMLJ,
chairman of the window committee of St Andrews Presbyterian
Church, addressed a large congregation gathered for the dedication
of a commemorative window at St Andrew's church The Order of St
Lazarus is Military, and Hospitaler. Many of us are no longer too
military: we are more like Don Quixote than Sir Galahad. Our blades
are rusty. Lt. Col. John Mackay DSO, filled the military portion of
our Order perfectly, as he was a distinguished artillery hero in the
first world war. As a renowned student of Shakespeare, the Bible and
Robert Burns, he was a typical Victorian courtier with great charm
and wit. He joined Ionic Lodge No. 25 G.R.C. in 1925, and was a
staunch supporter of Masonry until his death in 1 970. He lived his
life according to the Masonic Rule and Line and harmonized his
conduct by the principles of morality and virtue. To make his office
more representative of the community, he appointed the first Jewish
Aide de Camp in Canada, if not the British Empire, Col. the Hon.
Barry Shapiro who is present, as is Mrs. Anne Lazare Mirvish, a
close friend of the Mackays whose wonderful Bust of Keiller is on
display in the Community Hall
Bro. Edward Earle Shouldice (1890-1965)
Surgeon, affiliated with Ionic in 1 93 1 . As a student physician, he
was initiated in University Lodge No. 496 on Jan. 22, 1914.
He was born Oct. 3, 1 890, in Chesley, Ontario. His parents sent
him to Victoria College, Toronto, in 1910 to study for the ministry.
Dutifully, he followed this course for an unhappy year, but finally he
persuaded his family to let him enroll in the medical course at the
University of Toronto in 1911. He was graduated in 1916 and went
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overseas in the Army in 1918, returning a year later with the rank of
Captain.
Dr Shouldice established a medical practice in Toronto on his
return and was appointed lecturer in anatomy at the University of
Toronto. He remained affiliated with the University for 27 years. He
had a disconcerting habit of introducing methods of treating patients,
which upset time-honored theories and those faculty members who
adamantly adhered to those theories.
As late as the 1 930's, a person whose appendix had ruptured was
in danger of dying from general peritonitis through dehydration. Dr
Shouldice reasoned and proved that introduction of normal saline
into the body of a person suffering from peritonitis would prevent
that person's death. Today, the use of normal saline given
intravenously is standard practice in hospitals. He pioneered in the
cure of pernicious anemia, in research on intestinal obstruction, in
operations to ease pressure in hydrocephalic cases and in his two
greatest achievements: early ambulation (getting the patient up soon
after an operation, and his world-renowned techniques for hernia
repair.
World War II set the stage for Dr Shouldice's second great
achievement. From 1940 to 1945 he was consulting surgeon for the
Army. The Army was rejecting many young men who were
otherwise physically fit because they needed hernia repair. Dr
Shouldice volunteered his operative services and a close friend,
Charles Rathgeb, offered to pay hospital expenses for these recruits
through the Red Cross. The patients were up and around constantly
and had the clips removed from their incisions 24 to 48 hours after
the operations.
By the time the war ended in 1945, a large number persons had
requested hernia repair and these patients were waiting but local
hospitals were filled with war casualties. Dr Shouldice wanted
facilities where he could improve his hernia repair technique. The
solution was to establish his own hospital and shortly before he left
the Army in 1945, a nursing home at 626 Church Street appeared for
sale. An operating room was set up in an altered bedroom. In 1953,
the 135-acre Thornhill estate of the late George McCullough, a
Toronto newspaper publisher, was purchased and remodeled as a
second hospital.
World-wide recognition of Dr Shouldice's contributions to
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
medicine came during the 20 years after the founding of the
Surgery. He was invited to lecture and demonstrate his technique
for hernia repair throughout the world. What began as a small six-
bed surgical centre in downtown Toronto has grown, out of demand,
into a unique, specialized, world referral centre, with 89 beds and
five operating rooms staffed by 10 surgeons. Over 300,000 hernias
have been repaired. More than 7,000 hernia patients are treated every
year.
V.W.Bro. The Hon. Dana H. Porter (1901-1967).
Initiated in Ionic 1928. V.W.Bro. Porter was installed as Master
of Ionic Lodge in December 1941. He was appointed Grand Senior
Deacon in 1952. Dana Porter was born in Toronto on January 14,
1901 . The son of Dr George D Porter, medical director of Harthouse
and Lena Harris, he was educated at the University of Toronto (B.A.
1921) and at Balliol College, Oxford (M.A. 1923). He was called to
the Ontario Bar in 1 926 and was a member of the Law Firm of
Fennel, Porter & Davis, where he specialized in litigation, until 1 944.
Entering politics as a Conservative, he represented the
constituents of Toronto St George in the Ontario Legislature for five
consecutive terms and was, for 1 4 years, an influential member of the
Provincial cabinet.
Bro. Porter served under three Premiers as: Minister of Planning
and Development 1944-1948; Minister of Education 1948-1951;
Provincial Secretary 1948-1949; Attorney-General 1949-1955 and
Treasurer of Ontario 1955-1958. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
appointed him Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Ontario on
February 1, 1958. In 1947 he instituted, in the face of objection from
Ottawa, the airlift that brought 10,000 British immigrants to the
Province. In 1 950, he introduced the Bill that legalized Sunday sports
in Ontario. In 1 953 he received the B'nai B'rith Humanitarian Award.
He headed the Royal Commission on Banking and Finance from
1961 to 1964.
In 1964 he delivered the judgment that lifted the ban on the
notorious novel Fanny Hill, by John Cleland (1709-1789). Bro.
Porter was installed as First Chancellor of the University of Waterloo
in June 1960 where the Library is named in his honour.
R.W.Bro. Donald Methuen Fleming (1905-1986
R. W.Bro. Fleming was born in Exeter, Ont son of Louis Charles
Fleming and Maud Margaret Wright. He received his early education
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in Gait, where his father taught mathematics at Gait Collegiate
Institute and from which he graduated, at 1 6, after winning the first
Carter Scholarship for Waterloo County. He came to Toronto that
same year, 1921, as a student in Arts at University of Toronto. He
won the Alexander MacKenzie Scholarship in Political Science in
both his second and third years, thus establishing two more firsts. He
graduated in Arts in 1 925 as a winner of the highest award in that
faculty, namely the Governor-General's Gold Medal for General
Proficiency, and he was also awarded the Breuls Gold Medal for
Political Science. Mr. Fleming then enrolled at Osgoode Hall Law
School, and after winning two more scholarships, in 1926 and 1927
respectively, graduated from there in 1928 with the Silver Medal and
the Christopher Robinson Memorial Scholarship.
He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1928 (K.C. 1944), served on
City Council, The Board of Trade and The Board of Education.. A
Conservative in politics was elected in 1945 to represent Toronto-
Eglinton in the Canadian House of Commons and retained that seat
in succeeding elections, including the election of June 1957,
following which he joined the Diefenbaker Cabinet as minister of
Finance. Bro. Fleming was a contender for the party leadership in
1948 and 1956. He was active in the YMCA and was Trustee of the
Toronto General Hospital, a director of the Canadian National
Exhibition and a Senator of the University of Toronto. In 1933 he
married Alice Mildred, daughter of William C. Watson of Toronto.
They had two sons and one daughter.
He was initiated in Ionic Lodge in 1937 and was installed as
Master in 1952. He was strictly opposed to any kind of
discrimination, once giving members of the Lodge a choice between
his presence or blackballing a candidate.
R.W.Bro. Herbert Allan Borden Leal O.C. Q.C. (1917-1999)
R.W.Bro. H. Allan Leal was born on June 12, 1917 in Beloeil,
Quebec and married the former Muriel Clemens on March 21,1 942.
A very active man, his hobbies were sailing, fishing, golf and
skiing. This dominance of sporting activities is no surprise when it
is realized that Allan went to McMaster University on an Ontario
Hockey Association scholarship, where he played defence and was
a team captain in 1940. He also played football for McMaster and
was a member of its 1940 championship squad. He was also a
member of the 1938 boxing team and won the inter-collegiate heavy
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THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
weight title in that sport and is a charter member of McMaster's
sports Hall of Fame.
One of two Ontario Rhodes Scholars in 1 940, Bro. Leal attended
Osgoode Hall and was called to the bar in 1948. He received his
LL.M at the Law School of Harvard University. He has received
honorary degrees from McMaster, York, Dalhousie, and the
University of Western Ontario, and was made McMaster's
Chancellor in 1977.
The list of Bro. LeaPs professional positions and activities is
vast, suffice it to say he has been: Lecturer, Professor and Dean of
Osgoode Hall Law School; member and vice-chairman of the
Ontario Law Reform Commission; special advisor to the Premier on
constitutional matters. He served with distinction with the Royal
Canadian Artillery in WWII and retired with the rank of Captain. He
is a member of the Order of Canada and was made an Officer of that
prestigious and distinguished body.
Masonically, Allan Leal was initiated, passed and raised in Ionic
Lodge No. 25 G.R.C. in 1952 and was installed as Master in 1966.
He was a member of the Board of General Purposes from 1 970
through to 1976. During the years 1972-1979 he served on a very
important committee of Grand Lodge, charged with the reviewing
and rewriting of the Book of Constitution. A task in which his well
trained and highly skilled legal mind was of great value to our craft.
Anyone who has done a comparison of the present and previous
versions of the Book of Constitution realizes that the committee has
done its task well.
R.W.Bro. C. Stephen Fox-Revett (1922-2005)
Initiated in Ionic on March 5, 1958. Installed as Master in 1972.
In 1984 the Brethren of Toronto District 3 elected him their
D.D.G.M.
Stephen was born in England on May 21,1 922, went to the USA
in 1929 and lived in Chicago and San Francisco until 1933 when he
came with his father to Canada. His mother had died in California.
He was educated at St. Andrew's College and Jarvis Collegiate.
Wrote his senior matriculation (Grade XIII) exams in uniform and
left with the active army immediately afterwards as a gunner. He
received his commission in 1 943 and proceeded overseas to England,
Italy, France and other parts of Europe. After the war he continued
serving with the Militia while attending university. In the summer of
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1947 he hitch-hiked across Canada and the Peace River District
where he traded furs and hides with the Indians. Years later he was
trading cocoa beans, again with the natives, but this time in West
Africa where he survived two revolutions in what is now Ghana
On returning to Canada he joined the Export Division of
Coleman Lamp & Stove and for five years traveled the Caribbean,
Mexico and South America. He married in 1952 and raised four
children. Fifty years later he and Joan boast of eleven grandchildren.
He passed to the Grand Lodge Above Saturday, February 19, 2005.
At the time of his death he was still practicing real estate and was
actively involved with the Order of St. Lazarus, Ionic Lodge, the
Royal Canadian Legion, Trinity College and Christ Church Deer
Park. He was an Aide-de-camp to six Lieutenant Governors of
Ontario.
Conclusion
It can be concluded from this presentation that many
prominent, high achieving individuals have embraced
Masonry and have found its tenants and principles of value.
These Brethren despite obviously busy schedules and
heavy responsibilities outside the Craft found time, in many
instance, to be very active contributing Masons.
We should look to their example for inspiration and
recognize the great value that Masonry brings to the world at
large and the fraternity in particular.
259
OUR DEPARTED BRETHREN
We have been notified of the following members
who have passed to the Grand Lodge Above
GORDON ROBERT BRITTAIN
Toronto
Georgina Lodge No. 343
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above March 7, 2006
CHARLES G. COP ELAND
Weston
Kilwinning Lodge No. 565
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above February 25, 2006
KENNETH GEORGE CRAWLEY
Scarborough
Riverdale John Ross Robertson Lodge No. 494
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above May 10, 2006
DOUGLAS ARTHUR DALE
Kingston
Royal Edward Lodge No. 585
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above April 1, 2006
We give thanks for the privilege of knowing them
and sharing in their lives
260
OUR DEPARTED BRETHREN
We have been notified of the following members
who have passed to the Grand Lodge Above
ARNOLD BRIAN GEORGE
Cayuga
Fort William Lodge No. 415
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above October 27, 2005
WILLIAM LEONARD McNEIL
Milton
Melita Lodge No. 605
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above March 22, 2005
GORDON ARTHUR MONK
Minden
Arcadia Lodge No. 440
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above September 18, 2006
WARREN OTTO MULACK
Sudbury
Espanola Lodge No. 527
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above September 7, 2005
We give thanks for the privilege of knowing them
and sharing in their lives
261
OUR DEPARTED BRETHREN
We have been notified of the following members
who have passed to the Grand Lodge Above
JOHN HAROLD JAMES
SAUNDERS
Mississauga
Georgina Lodge No. 343
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above October 18, 2005
FLOYD WALKER
Lakefield
Richmond Hill Lodge No. 23
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above October 6, 2005
CHARLES HENRY WATSON
Caledon East
Cathedral Lodge No. 643
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above January 5, 2006
GEORGE PERCIVAL ROBERT
WEBSTER
Scarborough
St. Aidan's Lodge No. 567
Passed to the Grand Lodge Above September 18, 2006
We give thanks for the privilege of knowing them
and sharing in their lives
262
THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
PAST MASTERS
1978 Jacob Pos
1979 K. Flynn*t
1980 Donald G. S. Grinton
1981 Ronald E. Groshaw
1982 George E. Zwicker f
1983 Balfour Le Gresley
1984 David C. Bradley
1985 C. Edwin Drew
1986 Robert S. Throop
1987 Albert A. Barker
1988 Edsel C. Steen f
1989 Edmund V. Ralph
1990 Donald B. Kaufman
1991 Wilfred T. Greenhough f
1992 Frank G. Dunn
1993 Stephen H. Maizels
1994 David G. Fletcher
1995 Kenneth L. Whiting
1996 Larry J. Hostine
1997 George A. Napper
1998 Gordon L. Finbow
1999 P. Raymond Borland
2000 Donald L. Cosens
2001 William C. Thompson
2002 Donald A. Campbell
2003 Carl M. Miller
2004 John H. Hough
2005 Ebrahim Washington
* Demitted t Deceased
263
THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
Chips Editor Brian E. Bond, Campbellcroft
Marketing Edmund V. Ralph, Don Mills
Editorial Board Sheldon Kofsky, Jordan
Educational and Program Planning . . Donald B. Kaufman, Kitchener
W. J. Dunlop Award Robert S. Throop, Oshawa
Finance Raymond D. Bush, Burlington
Black Creek Masonic Heritage . . . Arnold McCausland, Mississauga
Masonic Heritage Corporation Robert S. Throop, Oshawa
^.^#
REGIONAL LIAISON CHAIRMEN
Western Ontario Districts
Roger J. Gindon, 519-434-9030 - London
Central Ontario Districts
Glenn H. Gilpin, 705-466-2185 - Creemore
Prince Edward / Frontenac / St. Lawrence
Allen H. Hackett, 613-399-1744 - Consecon
Ontario / Peterborough / Victoria
Donald E. Schatz, 705-466-2185 - Bridgenorth
Toronto Districts
John P. McLaughlin, 416-282-3083 - Toronto
Niagara / Hamilton Districts
E. Warren Lay, 905-563-7609 - Beamsville
Ottawa / Eastern Districts
David R. Mackey, 613-836-1070 - Ottawa
Northern Ontario Districts
Alex Gray, 705-522-3398 - Sudbury
264
THE HERITAGE LODGE PROCEEDINGS - 2006
THE HERITAGE LODGE OFFICERS - 2006
Worshipful Master Victor V. Cormack 705-789-4187
Huntsville, Ontario
Immediate Past Master Ebrahim Washington 416-281-3464
Scarborough, Ontario
Senior Warden Peter F. Irwin 905-885-2018
Port Hope, Ontario
Junior Warden Michael Ikonomidis 905-668-9930
Whitby, Ontario
Chaplain Joseph A. Das 416-291-6444
Toronto, Ontario
Treasurer Thomas W. Hogeboom 613-354-3593
Napanee, Ontario
Secretary Samuel Forsythe 905-831-2076
Pickering, Ontario
Assistant Secretary . . . Kenneth E. Campbell 613-476-7382
Milford, Ontario
Senior Deacon Brian E. Bond 905-797-3266
Campbellcroft, Ontario
Junior Deacon Kenneth D. Fralick 905-666-3954
Whitby, Ontario
Director of Ceremonies John H. Hough 905-875-4433
Milton, Ontario
Inner Guard Louie J. Lombardi 905-637-3003
Claremont, Ontario
Senior Steward Charles H. Reid 416-742-7878
Toronto, Ontario
Junior Steward David C. Mahon 705-645-2460
Bracebridge
Organist Emeritus Donald E. Schatz 705-292-7414
Bridgenorth, Ontario
Organist Murray S. Black 416-481-3186
Toronto, Ontario
Historian Brian W. King 905-257-0449
Oakville, Ontario
Tyler David M. Sheen 519-941-8511
Alton, Ontario
Auditor Donald R. Thornton Kingston, Ontario
Auditor William J. Finlay Kingston, Ontario
265
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